Pentagon budget 2022: US Navy maintains submarine investments

The proposed US Navy (USN) Fiscal year (FY) 2022 spending plan released on 28 May includes more than USD11 billion for submarine acquisitions.

The FY 2022 request of USD4.6 billion will provide the second of three years of incremental funding for the new Columbia-class submarines, slated to replace Ohio-class boats for strategic-deterrence missions.

Additionally, according to USN budget documentation, the FY 2022 funding request will continue detailed design efforts, continuous missile-tube production, and advanced construction and procurement of major hull components and propulsion systems for the Columbia-class submarines.

The proposed budget also requests USD356.4 million in for the Columbia-class programme research and development, focusing on propulsion plant and nuclear technology development, common missile-compartment design and prototyping, and platform development and vendor qualification for technologies such as the propulsor, strategic weapons system, and maneuvering and ship control.

An additional FY 2022 budget request of USD6.4 billion includes funds two Block V Virginia class fast attack submarines (SSNs), related advance procurement and economic order quantity funds executing as part of the FY 2019 – FY 2023 multiyear procurement (MYP), and advance procurement funds for the FY 2024 Block VI ships.

The FY 2022 hulls will include the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), a hull section with four additional payload tubes capable of carrying an additional 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles which increases the Tomahawk capacity from 12 to 40 per ship.