Virginia-class submarine
US Navy fast attack submarine class / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Virginia class, or the SSN-774 class, is the newest class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The class is designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations.[10] They are scheduled to replace older Los Angeles-class submarines, many of which have already been decommissioned. Virginia-class submarines will be acquired through 2043, and are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later submarines expected to operate into the 2070s.[11][12]
Virginia-class SSN profile | |
USS Virginia underway in July 2004 | |
Class overview | |
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Builders | |
Operators |
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Preceded by | Seawolf class |
Succeeded by | SSN(X) class[1] |
Cost | $2.8 billion per unit (2019);[2] $4.3 billion per unit w/VPM (2023)[3] |
Built | 2000–present |
In commission | 2004–present |
Planned | 66[3] |
On order | 4 |
Building | 10 |
Completed | 24 |
Active | 22 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Nuclear attack submarine |
Displacement |
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Length |
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Beam | 34 ft (10 m) |
Propulsion | |
Speed | 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) or over[6] |
Range | Unlimited |
Endurance | Only limited by food and maintenance requirements. |
Test depth | Over 800 ft (240 m)[7] |
Complement | 135 (15 officers; 120 enlisted) |
Armament |
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On 14 March 2023, the trilateral Australian-British-American security pact known as AUKUS announced that the Royal Australian Navy would purchase three Virginia-class submarines as a stopgap measure between the retirement of their conventionally powered Collins-class submarines and the acquisition of the future SSN-AUKUS class submarines. If the SSN-AUKUS fell behind schedule, Australia would have the option of purchasing two additional Virginia-class submarines.[13][14]