PortolanBearings Network · FreeColumbia-Class SSBN
Program of Record · Program Executive Office Strategic Submarines
Program Type
Program of Record
Lead Agency
United States Navy · Sponsor: Program Executive Office Strategic Submarines
Operational Domains
Sea
Mission Areas
Undersea Warfare +1
OVERVIEW
The Columbia-class is the U.S. Navy's next-generation ballistic missile submarine, replacing the aging Ohio-class. The lead ship, USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826), is under construction at General Dynamics Electric Boat with Newport News Shipbuilding as a major subcontractor. Columbia is the sea leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. The class introduces an electric drive propulsion system, a life-of-hull nuclear reactor, and interoperability with the UK Dreadnought-class. Delivery of the first hull was rebaselined from 2027 to 2028 in Navy testimony.
AT A GLANCE
Status
Development
Started
2011
Organizations
2
Technologies
2
Last reviewed 2026-07-23
PROGRAM TIMELINE
Announced
CURRENT PHASE
Prototype
PLANNED
Testing
PLANNED
Fielding
PLANNED
Full capability
PLANNED
OBJECTIVES
01Field the successor to the Ohio-class SSBN
02Sustain the sea-based leg of the nuclear triad
03Introduce electric drive propulsion + life-of-hull reactor
04Maintain UK Dreadnought interoperability
RELATED MISSIONS
RELATED TECHNOLOGIES
PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS · 2
See all 2 in directory →General Dynamics Electric BoatParticipant · public program documentation
Huntington Ingalls Industries (Newport News Shipbuilding)Participant · public program documentation
Participation from public program documentation — never paid, never ranked. Contact Bearings deliberately omitted from the public layer.
RELATED PROGRAMS
REFERENCES
Navy PEO Strategic SubmarinesCRS Columbia-class reportsGAO shipbuilding reports
Last reviewed 2026-07-23
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