Then there’s the question of non-nuclear payloads in some of the CMC missile tubes. On the other hand, torpedo tubes are useful to keep up SSN training and testing roles, ensuring that American submariners remain proficient enough to be assigned between types. Attention is the last thing an SSBN wants, so this is a last resort action. Should the new boats have torpedo tubes, in order to protect themselves from enemies under, on, or even above the water? Or should they eliminate that feature and its accompanying space? Sometimes the best defense really is a good offense, but even if the torpedo or missile destroys its enemy, the act of destruction is a beacon to enemy forces as soon as they’re aware of it. The Trident II D5 missiles, which are being refurbished and improved, will switch over to the new boats as their initial nuclear weapons.īeyond that, there are questions.
Current American Ohio Class SSBNs have 24 tubes, but SSBN-X currently plans to reduce that to 16 tubes. Weapons: The new CMC/AL assemblies are slated for production in blocks of 4 tubes, allowing the USA and UK to tailor the total number of missile tubes to their final submarine designs. If upgrades are too expensive, the entire SSBN force could find itself compromised mid-way through its life. The 65 years from 2015 – 2080 is a huge amount of time in the technology world. The key will be making these sensors upgradeable at low cost. The submarines will undoubtedly deploy an array of other sensors, including flank sonars, towed sonar, fiber-optic masts that don’t have to penetrate the ship’s hull, ESM signal recognition and location technologies, etc. Sensors: SSBN-X is expected to use the horseshoe-shaped Large Aperture Bow Array (LAB) sonar that was developed for the Virginia Block III submarines. The penalty would be poorer evasion of enemy torpedoes if the sub is found. That would cut maximum power needs sharply, and reduce maximum required diving depth because the submarine won’t require as much space to pull out of a jam dive. One suggested way to save money was to reduce the submarine’s maximum speed from 20 to 15 knots. The usual sail-mounted dive planes will be present, along with X-shaped stern surfaces. SSBN-X propulsion will be all-electric, which decouples the drive train from the turbines, and the pump-jet propulsor will use shrouded technology taken from the Virginia Class.
Like the current SSN Seawolf and SSN Virginia Classes, the new reactor won’t need refueling during the submarine’s lifetime. They will be powered by a new-design reactor using 90% enriched uranium. So far, what’s known about the design includes:īasics: The submarines will be about the same length as the Ohio Class at 560 feet, but may be a bit wider.
The American SSBN-X will be the end product of intense debate, especially given its aggressive production cost target of FY10$ 4.9 billion. At present, Britain, France, India, Russia, and China are all working on new sub-launched ballistic missile systems and/or SSBN submarines. If the Ohio Replacement Program suffers further development delays, this high-risk period will see corresponding extensions.Īmerica isn’t alone in their pursuit. Unfortunately, delays in starting the program mean that the USA is likely to end up with just 10 SSBNs from 2029 – 2042. That’s a very long lifetime for a submarine, whose hull is alternately squeezed and released by water pressure as it dives and surfaces. A total of 12 boats would be produced, with the last boat expected to leave service around 2085. The USA aims to begin construction of the new SSBN in 2021, and have the new type enter service with the fleet in 2031.
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