Editing Ohio-class submarine (section)

==Replacement==
{{main|Columbia-class submarine}}

The [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] anticipated a continued need for a [[Nuclear triad|sea-based strategic nuclear force]].{{cn|date=July 2024}} The first of the current ''Ohio''-class SSBNs was expected to be retired by 2029,{{cn|date=July 2024}} so the replacement submarine would need to be seaworthy by that time. A replacement was expected to cost over $4 billion per unit compared to ''Ohio''{{'}}s $2 billion.<ref name="Frost" /> The U.S. Navy explored two options. The first option was a variant of the {{sclass|Virginia|submarine|0}} nuclear-powered attack submarines. The second option was a dedicated SSBN, either with a new hull or based on an overhaul of the current ''Ohio'' class.{{cn|date=July 2024}}

With the cooperation of both Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding, in 2007, the U.S. Navy began a cost-control study.{{cn|date=July 2024}} Then in December 2008, the U.S. Navy awarded Electric Boat a contract for the missile compartment design of the ''Ohio''-class replacement, worth up to $592 million. Newport News is expected to receive close to 4% of that project. In April 2009, [[United States Secretary of Defense|U.S. Defense Secretary]] [[Robert M. Gates]] stated that the U.S. Navy was expected to begin such a program in 2010.<ref name="Frost" /> The new vessel was scheduled to enter the design phase by 2014. If a new hull design was to be used, the program needed to be initiated by 2016 to meet the 2029 deadline.{{cn|date=July 2024}}{{update after|2014|1|1}}

The ''Columbia'' class was officially designated on 14 December 2016, by Secretary of the Navy [[Ray Mabus]], and the lead submarine will be {{USS|District of Columbia|SSBN-826}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2016/12/13/secnav-mabus-to-officially-designate-first-orp-boat-uss-district-of-columbia-ssbn-826|title=SECNAV Mabus to Officially Designate First ORP Boat USS ''Columbia'' (SSBN-826)|website=USNI News|date=13 December 2016|access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref> The Navy wants to procure the first ''Columbia''-class boat in FY2021,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.usni.org/2020/05/19/report-columbia-class-nuclear-ballistic-missile-submarine-program|title=Report on the Columbia-class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine Program|website=USNI News|date=20 May 2020|access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref> though it is not expected to enter service until 2031.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/02/2001872886/-1/-1/1/2018-NUCLEAR-POSTURE-REVIEW-FINAL-REPORT.PDF| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180202200026/https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/02/2001872886/-1/-1/1/2018-NUCLEAR-POSTURE-REVIEW-FINAL-REPORT.PDF| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2 February 2018| title = Nuclear Posture Review - Final Report|publisher=media.defense.gov|date=February 2018|access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="senedia.org">{{cite web |url=http://www.senedia.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Ohio-Replacement-Program-Defense-Innovation-Days-5-Sep-2014-Final.pdf |title=SENEDIA Defense Innovation Days |date=5 September 2014 |website=Senedia.org |access-date=20 August 2016}}</ref>

In 2020, Navy officials first publicly discussed the idea of extending the lives of select ''Ohio''-class boats at the Naval Submarine League's 2020 conference. During the 2022 conference, [[Rear admiral (United States)|Rear Admiral]] Scott Pappano, the program executive officer for strategic submarines, and Rear Admiral [[Douglas G. Perry]], the director of undersea warfare on the [[Chief of Naval Operations]]' staff, discussed the ''Columbia''-class program, and also touched on the possibility of finding ''Ohio''-class boats that had sufficient remaining nuclear fuel and were in good enough material state to be given a further extension to their lives.<ref name="2022-11-03_DN">{{cite web|url=https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2022/11/02/us-navy-wants-to-avoid-shortfall-of-nuke-armed-subs-in-2030s/|title=US Navy wants to avoid shortfall of nuke-armed subs in 2030s|publisher=defensenews.com|date=2 November 2022|access-date=8 November 2022}}</ref>