The Virginia-class submarines, initially introduced to replace the older Los Angeles-class submarines, have been a part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet since the first of the class, the USS Virginia (SSN-774), was commissioned in 2004. Constructed at a pace of two to three units annually, with prices around $3.4 billion per sub, the aim has been to construct 66 of these advanced nuclear-powered fast-attack vessels. As of 2023, 22 Virginia-class submarines are active, and more are under construction.
The Block V enhancement represents a radical increase in firepower. An 84-foot-long Virginia Payload Module (VPM) section is added to the subs, equipping them with four additional large-diameter vertical launch tubes. This expansion allows each submarine to carry 40 Tomahawk missiles, tripling the previous capacity. As a notable quote from a February 2022 Congressional Research Service report elaborates, “When procured at a rate of two boats per year, VPM-equipped Virginia-class SSNs have an estimated procurement cost of about $3.45 billion per boat.”
The VPM will enhance the Virginia-class, a heavily armed nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, significantly boosting its capabilities. The Block V will notably expand the missile-carrying capacity, effectively transforming it into a cruise missile submarine (SSGN). Each VPM can accommodate 40 cruise missiles. Additionally, the VPM will raise the number of torpedo-sized weapons carried by each submarine from around 37 to approximately sixty-five, marking a 76 percent increase.
The Block V Virginia-class submarines not only bolster Tomahawk missile capacity but also pave the way for the integration of newer technologies, such as hypersonic missiles and advanced anti-ship Maritime Strike Tomahawks.
Despite their enhanced capabilities, these submarines face challenges beyond the undersea threats of adversaries. The U.S. submarine industrial base is currently strained, trying to balance the construction of these advanced attack submarines with the production of the Columbia-class ballistic missile subs. In June 2023, the Government Accountability Office raised concerns about the capacity of U.S. shipbuilders to meet the demands of both programs. This strain could result in longer construction periods for the Virginia-class Block V boats.
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