U.S. Navy graphic
by Capt. Dave Kriete
most survivable and secure element of our nation’s nuclear arsenal, providing the strategic deterrence that has been a core element of our national security and defense strategies which have also evolved over time. In addition, because it employs a dual crew, the Ohio-class SSBN gives our nation a high return on investment, only entering port for maintenance. While each leg of the nuclear triad represents a set of unique attributes, only the SSBN force provides a continuously available, secure and survivable deterrence capability, the “on-call force.”
SSBNs are Required for the Future
Artist’s conception of a possible design for the Ohio-class replacement.
Sea-Based Strategic Deterrent Replacing the 2010 will mark the first year of research and development funding for the nation’s follow-on sea based strategic deterrent. In his May 14, 2009 hearing with the House Armed Services Committee, Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, stated “Our Navy supports the nation’s nuclear deterrence capability with a credible and survivable fleet of 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines. Originally designed for a 30-year service life, this class will start retiring in 2027 after over 40 years of service life. As long as we live in a world with nuclear weapons, the United States will need a reliable and survivable sea based strategic deterrent. Our FY 2010 budget requests research and development funds for the Ohio-class replacement, to enable the start of construction 6 S U M M E R 2 0 0 9 U N D E R S E A WA R F A R E
-class
of the first ship in FY 2019. The United States will achieve significant program benefits by aligning our efforts with those of the United Kingdom’s Vanguard SSBN replacement program. The US and UK are finalizing a cost share agreement.”
SSBNs are Required Today
In addition to Adm. Roughead, many military and political leaders over the last few decades have stated that as long as potential adversaries possess nuclear weapons the United States will need a reliable and survivable nuclear force. Since the mid 1960’s, the U.S. Navy’s fleet of ballistic missile submarines has met this need. As the fleet has evolved from the Lafayetteclass to the Benjamin Franklin-class to the Ohio-class, SSBNs have remained the
The service the SSBN Force provides in support of our national defense strategy today represents a requirement that must be met well into the latter half of this century. A board of three and four star officers from the joint branches of our military forces validated this continued requirement last year. Further, defense leadership has affirmed the commitment to meet the requirement for a sea based strategic deterrent beyond the horizon of any of our currently in-service platforms.
Our Current Fleet of SSBNs Will Not Last Forever
The service life of Ohio-class SSBNs has been extended to the max possible limit. When these SSBNs retire after more than 40 years of operation, they will be the longest serving of any submarines the U.S. has ever operated.
The Time to Begin the Process of Replacing the Ohio-class is Today
The defense establishment has begun to examine what it will take to replace the Ohio-class SSBNs when the first one retires in 2027 and the remaining boats are retired at the rate of one per year through 2040. This planning is occurring at just the right time — not too soon, not too late. The eighteen years between now and 2027 represent the typical amount of time it takes to design and build a replacement class of submarines. The design and construction standard has been validated by our three most recent classes: Ohio, Seawolf and Virginia. But unlike the Ohio-class, which has an extended life of 40 years, the replacement to the Ohio will be designed and constructed up front initially for 40 years of operation. Over the last year or so, much work
