Submarines: Drones for SSBNs
Ezoic
March 3, 2025: Russia has built 64 cruise missile armed SSGN submarines since the 1950s. The U.S. Navy has only built four. These four SSGNs are being retired by the early 2030s. Despite their imminent demise, the navy continues to add upgrades. The latest one is an underwater drone that can be launched and recovered. The drone has an unspecified range and endurance but is designed to follow a preprogrammed route and collect information on what types of ships and submarines it detects and where these vessels are along the way. These drones could also be armed and used to attack enemy ships in an anchorage. The U.S. Navy is developing a number of autonomous vehicles. These include robotic surface warships and transports.
The American SSGN program began when the United States navy decided to replace fourteen Cold War vintage Ohio class SSBNs. These nuclear submarines are armed with ballistic missiles. The new Columbia class SSBNs will be about the same length of the 15,500 ton Ohios but about 5 percent larger in diameter and displace 18,500 tons on the surface. The Ohios were based on 1980s technology and, although upgraded over the years, are showing their age. The Ohios entered service between 1981 and 1997. Originally there were to be 24 Ohios but only 18 were built. With the end of the Cold War in 1991 even fewer were needed and four were converted to SSGNs carrying cruise missiles instead of SLBM ballistic missiles. The conversion was completed in 2008.
Originally built to last 30 years it was later realized that this service life could be extended to at least 42 years. That means the Ohios will begin reaching retirement age in 2023 and the entire class will be gone by the late 2030s. If there is no replacement class of SSBNs built the SSBNs will be gone.
https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsub/articles/2025030303132.aspx#gsc.tab=0
