abstract:The Virginia-class, also known as the SSN-774-class, is a class of nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (hull classification symbol SSN) in service with the United States Navy. The submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions.
Thus, delaying carrier construction would allow some near-term cost avoidance, but over the longer term the service would end up paying more for each carrier and other combat systems such as the Virginia-class attack submarine.
The proposed plan would retire seven cruisers early, delay construction of the next large-deck amphibious warfare ship by one year, cancel the second Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) in 2014, delay construction of two smaller amphibious warfare ships, and reduce procurement of littoral combat ships by two and joint high speed vessels by eight.
General Dynamics currently has 5, 000 engineers and draftsmen at work in and around Groton designing the next generation of ballistic-missile subs, and an additional 2, 000 tradesmen assembling Virginia-class attack subs, so the town is on firm ground in calling itself the submarine capital of the world.