Navy leaders tell lawmakers Columbia-sub about 17 months late

The Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) is now projected to be ready by early 2029, Navy officials told lawmakers last week.

The Navy says its highest priority program is the Columbia-class, starting with the future USS District of Columbia (SSBN-826), which it intends to gradually replace the aging Ohio-class SSBNs.

Acting Chief of Naval Operations Admiral James Kilby told the Senate Appropriation’s defense subcommittee June 24 that “we are now on a pace to deliver that sub approximately two years late, March of ‘29. We are trying desperately to claw back that schedule. I work with the PEO, as does the Secretary, on where there’s opportunities there to move that to the left.”

Although Kilby said they are two years late, compared to the original contracted schedule, this March 2029 delivery schedule is about 17 months late and more precise than what Navy officials told lawmakers two months ago.

In their written opening statement for a Senate Armed Services seapower subcommittee hearing on April 8, Navy program officials said SSBN-826 was over 50 percent complete but it was running a year and a half behind schedule. 

Kilby said he is optimistic they will shorten the remaining timeline, but that March 2029 is the current schedule. “I’m going to try to pull it to the left to deliver it earlier.”

Exchange Monitor affiliate Defense Daily first published this story.