[Llarry]

On the subject of submarines, the improved Block V Virginia-class nuclear-powered subs for the U.S. Navy are under construction. They feature a major modification: an 83-foot longer hull (lengthened from 377 feet to 460 feet) to accommodate four Virginia payload modules, in addition to the two modules in the bow section of earlier boats.

The Virginia payload module is an 87-inch diameter cylinder that has seven vertical launch tubes for cruise missiles. Six modules x 7 Tomahawk missiles each = 42 cruise missiles, in addition to the four 21-inch torpedo tubes.

This large increase in cruise missile capacity is due to the impending retirement of the four Ohio-class SSGNs (ex-SSBNs) which feature a capacity for 154 cruise missiles each. The Block V SSNs will help compensate for the reduction in cruise missile capacity in the fleet once the SSGNs are gone. The first of the longer Block Vs will be the Arizona (SSN 803), which should join the fleet in 2025-2026.

Since the payload module is modular, there is the possibility of replacing it with other options: larger diameter missiles, etc.

In other USN submarine news, the Navy has run out of state names for their attack submarines; that's a lot of submarines! The Arizona will be the last SSN named after a state. Instead, some names of famous submarines from the past will be resurrected -- the first will be Barb (SSN 804).

By the way, it is still not clear to me what submarines the Royal Australian Navy will buy. Some sources say they will get a couple of used USN SSNs. For the longer term, I think they are likely to buy submarines jointly designed in cooperation with the UK (and US?)