SSBN New Design

The COLUMBIA Submarine Class Program (previously the OHIO Replacement Class) is developing the next generation sea-based strategic deterrent. The funding applies to the design, systems engineering, prototyping, and vendor qualification activities needed to execute the schedule for Common Missile Compartment (CMC) design, whole ship design, and component technologies development for the next generation U.S. ballistic missile submarine (SSBN). This RDT&E program supports cooperation with the United Kingdom (UK) to maintain strategic deterrence, based on a single effort to develop a CMC as agreed by the UK Secretary of State for Defense and the U.S. Secretary of Defense in 2009. At the COLUMBIA Program Semi-Annual Interim Progress Review (IPR) held on August 30, 2021, the USD (A&S) Milestone Decision Authority (MDA) directed COLUMBIA to be funded to the program baseline, including Integrated Enterprise Plan (IEP) funding as reflected in this budget submission. The COLUMBIA program strategy is to leverage the re-use of existing Submarine system designs (as applicable), focus on lifecycle Total Ownership Cost (TOC) affordability, and meet the military requirements established for this SSBN to achieve mission success in a challenging environment. The requested funding levels provide for the Technology Development, Design, Engineering, and Integration efforts necessary to support the COLUMBIA Class SSBN lead ship construction along with continued development and design support for construction of the class. A Contract Modification for ongoing design/advance construction efforts was awarded on 22 Jun 2020, which also included the Build I Option for the First Two Ships. This was a Pre-Priced Option for the two ships, SSBN 826 and SSBN 827, and associated design/support efforts. This was a modification of the current Integrated Product & Process Development (IPPD) contract (N00024-17-C-2117) and is in line with the program's approved Acquisition Strategy. The program received authorization of SSBN 826 in FY21 (funded with three years of incremental funding in FY21-23), SSBN 827 in FY24 (funded with two years of incremental funding in FY24-25), and is requesting SSBN 828 in FY26 (funded with two years of incremental funding in FY26-27). The RDT&E efforts support this plan. The following key activities support the COLUMBIA Class SSBN Program: 1.

This project encompasses ship system development, coordination, and management efforts for the COLUMBIA Class Submarine Technology Insertion Program and Technology Refresh Program over the life cycle. The purpose of the Technology Insertion Program is to efficiently upgrade performance of all hulls by virtue of improvements in HM&E ship systems. The purpose of the Technology Refresh Program is to develop, coordinate, and manage technical refresh plans for ship systems reliant on Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) technology that have short product life cycles to ensure materiel solutions for obsolescence issues. Additionally, this project will support mitigation of obsolescence issues for HM&E components that are not included in systems that have not historically had a formal Tech Refresh plan. Technology development implementation and logistics for developmental items, and COLUMBIA Class test & evaluation for these items are also included. Testing of components and systems will be used to inform performance predictions for later ships in the class and determine if design changes are needed. Technologies developed in this program will be considered for applicability to the VIRGINIA Program for commonality opportunities. The thrust of these efforts will be to maintain required technical performance and materiel readiness of COLUMBIA SSBNs in order to support the Sea Based Strategic Deterrence (SBSD) mission.

This project provides the engineering development and program management effort required to sustain Non-Propulsion Electronic Systems (NPES) outfitting of each ship of the COLUMBIA Class throughout the duration of the 12-ship construction program. Non-recurring engineering activity is required to ensure specification compliant components are available for procurement as fleet common sub-systems, which evolve over the life of the program due to either competitive selection of new suppliers, component obsolescence replacement, increased technical performance, or improvements in reliability. Non-recurring engineering activity is needed to perform platform integration of the components, and software modification to accommodate electronic data exchange, COLUMBIA unique submarine environment qualification, and update of all logistics products.

Congressional Add supports shipyard and ship repair workforce training.