Methodically Making VIRGINIA-class Boats More Capable One Way to Measure Submarine Lethality: Payloads

摘要

The US Navy (USN) is building up its submarine fleet in both capability and capacity to address the looming global great power competition. The VIRGINIA-class of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) are a key element in the developing US maritime strategy to counter both China and Russia. The VIRGINIA-class boats are arguably the most capable attack submarines in the world and, thanks to an evolutionary approach to acquisition, design and construction, are becoming progressively more lethal, while at the same time being more affordable to procure. The SSNs are general-purpose submarines that can perform peacetime and wartime missions, including covert intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); covert insertion and recovery of special forces; covert strikes against land targets; and covert offensive and defensive mine warfare; anti-submarine warfare (ASW); and anti-surface warfare (ASuW).