The first four Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) were converted to carry up to 154 conventional cruise missiles, primarily Tomahawk land-attack missiles (TLAMs). These ships will begin decommissioning in 2026, leaving a gap in TLAM capability. The 28 additional missiles carried in each of the VPM-configured ships helps address that shortfall.
Lockheed Martin, serving as lead integrator for ARCI, partners with industry, government, and academia so the Navy rapidly obtains the most current technology available for its sonar systems at a much lower cost than developing the technology on its own.
In addition to Tomahawk, the SSNs are capable of launching Mk 48 Advanced Capability (ADCAP) torpedoes.
The Virginia-class attack submarine Mississippi (SSN 782) transits on the surface at night. The Virginia class were designed with the post-Cold War security environment in mind, optimized for stealth, sensors, and multimission capability. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Todd Frantom
The Virginia class has led the way in technology developments. It was the first Navy warship completely designed with computer-aided design (CAD) and visualization technology. Virginia-class submarines have AN/BVS-1 fiber-optic photonics masts located outside the pressure hull instead of the traditional periscope. Each of the two masts contains high-resolution cameras, light-intensification systems, infrared laser rangefinders, and an integrated electronic support measures (ESM) array. The ship also leverages rapidly evolving commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software and hardware technology using an open-architecture approach called ARCI (Acoustics Rapid COTS Insertion). Lockheed Martin, serving as lead integrator for ARCI, partners with industry, government, and academia so the Navy rapidly obtains the most current technology available for its sonar systems at a much lower cost than developing the technology on its own. This approach ensures the Navy always has the latest in computing power and speed for acoustical processing.
The Virginia-class attack submarine Mississippi (SSN 782) moors at Port of Pascagoula, Mississippi. The Virginia-class submarines employ fiber-optic photonics masts located outside the pressure hull of the boat. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Ryan G. Wilber
The Lockheed Martin command and control systems module (CCSM) integrates the sensors, countermeasure technology, and navigation and weapon control systems. The AN/BYG-1 advanced submarine combat control system is provided by Raytheon.
The sonar suite is also different, with several different arrays and hull-mounted panels to give greater coverage in more frequency ranges. The propulsion system is different, too, with BAE Systems pump-jet propulsors instead of noisier propellers. And unlike previous nuclear subs, the Virginia class has a life-of-the-ship reactor core that doesn’t require a mid-life refueling during its 33 years of expected service life.
Cmdr. Mike Stevens, commanding officer of the Virginia-Class fast-attack submarine New Hampshire, demonstrates the photonics mast for members of the media during a media tour of the submarine at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in 2008. U.S. Navy photo by Jeremy Lambert
To help develop the Virginia class, the Navy built a quarter-scale model for testing. The 110-foot-long Large Scale Vehicle 2 (LSV 2), Cutthroat, is the world’s largest underwater autonomous submarine vehicle – about half the size of a World War II submarine. It operates at the Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Carderock Division Acoustic Research Detachment on Lake Pend Oreille at Bayview, Idaho.
“These submarines excel in littoral and open-ocean environments and collect intelligence critical to irregular warfare efforts with advanced intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities,” said Goggins.