On Friday, 21 November 2025, the technical command of NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command) of the U.S. Navy published on social media photographs of the completed bow section with the sail of the first future next-generation Columbia-class nuclear-powered strategic submarine, developed under the Ohio Replacement Submarine program (known from 2012 as the SSBN-X Future Follow-on Submarine).
Photos: NAVSEA
“The future of submarine seapower is taking shape! The bow section of the future District of Columbia (SSBN 826), built by HII, has arrived at General Dynamics Electric Boat for final assembly and testing. This marks the completion of the majority of Newport News Shipbuilding division’s work on this critical next-generation submarine. With all major modules at Electric Boat, we’re one step closer to delivering this vital asset to our Nation’s Fleet,” – we read in the Facebook post accompanied by four photographs.
The cutting of the ship’s steel took place on 23 May 2019, the main construction work began on 1 October 2020, and the keel was laid on 4 June 2022. Meanwhile, on 5 November 2020, steel cutting for the second submarine, the future USS Wisconsin (SSBN-827), took place, while on 27 August of this year its keel was laid at the Electric Boat facility in Quonset Point. The third submarine already ordered is to be the USS Groton (SSBN-828).
Meanwhile, on 17 November of this year, NAVSEA command published information on the award, on 12 November, of a contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat worth USD 2,283,291,317 for additional advance procurement and advanced construction of the hulls of five submarines, from the aforementioned SSBN-828 through the subsequent, as yet unnamed SSBN-829, SSBN-830, SSBN-831, and SSBN-832.
A total of 12 next-generation submarines are planned, which will gradually replace the 14 Ohio-class units. The USS District of Columbia (SSBN-827) is to be delivered to the U.S. Navy in 2028–2029, with entry into service planned for 2031 (though it has been officially indicated that delays are expected due to problems with subcontractors, e.g., turbines from Northrop Grumman). The total cost of the program, from design and R&D work to construction of all units, is currently estimated at approximately USD 130–132 billion.
The Columbia class will in the future constitute one of the three key elements of the U.S. nuclear triad until around 2085 (carrying roughly 70% of all nuclear warheads). The submarines are to be 170.7 m long, 13.1 m wide, and displace 18,400 t standard and 21,144 t submerged. They will therefore be the largest submarines ever built in the United States.
Propulsion will be provided by a single nuclear reactor, the crew will number 155 officers and sailors, and the submarines will be equipped with an enlarged LAB sonar derived from the Virginia-class submarines. Each of the new submarines will be armed with 16 modernized UGM-133A Trident II D5LE (Trident III) ballistic missiles and, later, after 2042, will be rearmed with next-generation missiles. For self-defense, they will use heavy Mark 48 Mod 7 CBASS (Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System) torpedoes from Lockheed Martin.
To conclude, it is worth adding that on 10 January 2024, Huntington Ingalls Industries delivered the tail section of the submarine in question to General Dynamics Electric Boat, one of the photos above shows its transport aboard the Ocean Transport Barge Holland, which was specially built for this purpose.
Our #NewportNewsShipbuilding division recently delivered the first Columbia-class ballistic missile #submarine stern to @GDElectricBoat. Way to go, shipbuilders! Read more about this important delivery in support of our national security here: https://t.co/ylX8E1PliV pic.twitter.com/s4bk0uZiKw
— HII (@WeAreHII) January 10, 2024
The first Columbia-class submarine stern rides underneath the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge on Holland, #gdelectricboat’s 400-foot-long ocean transport barge, before arriving at @GDElectricBoat Quonset Point. pic.twitter.com/BqbKUay3Xh
— GD Electric Boat (@GDElectricBoat) January 10, 2024
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