OHIO CLASS SSGN (Sub Conversion)
Four Trident submarines were previously scheduled for inactivation in FY03/04 - with well over 20 years life remaining - ships that are in superb condition. The SSGN program represents the relatively low cost way to leverage the highly successful TRIDENT maintenance and training infrastructure and two-crew concept to maximize forward deployed warfighting capability.
Program plan is to refuel and convert four OHIO Class SSBNs to SSGNs, with IOC in 2007. The primary missions of the SSGN will be land attack and Special Operations Forces (SOF) insertion and support. Secondary missions will include traditional attack submarine missions of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), battle space preparation, and sea control. SSGNs will:
Be armed with up to 154 Tomahawk or Tactical Tomahawk land attack missiles.
Have the ability to carry and support a robust SOF team for greater than 90 days as compared to 15 days for a SOF outfitted SSN. Clandestine insertion and retrieval will be enhanced by the ability to host dual dry deck shelters and/or the Advanced Seal Delivery System.
Each SSGN will be able to conduct a variety of peace-time, conventional deterrent and combat operations all within the same deployment.
SSGN is transformational - converts a strategic asset into a conventional warfighting platform for a quantum increase in the CINCs' in-theater, initial strike and Special Forces capabilities.
Proven platform and two-crew concept will provide 70% operational availability and 2.65 continuous presence (4 SSGNs) in multiple AORs. Each ship will deliver 14 years of deployed presence during its remaining 20+ year life, compared with 7yrs out of thirty for traditional Navy ships.
High presence factor will increase CINCs' in-theater average TLAM availability by 300+ missiles with existing inventories; CINCs' can meet warplan requirements early in conflict.
Stealth and endurance combined with large payload volume (20 times that of an SSN) will enable sustained, quick-response strike operations and covert SOF insertion and support. Frees tactical submarine missions from the tyranny of the traditional 21-inch torpedo tube.
Modular payload encapsulation (already in development) with a standard interface could allow rapid insertion of new weapons, technologies and equipment - including off-the-shelf joint munitions (such as Army ATACMS and Air Force miniature air-launched decoys).
With respect to combat capability delivered, SSGN costs are well understood and do not involve a large "tail".
Procurement unit cost is less than any new major combatant (SSN, DDG)
These ships are operating today; operating bases, training infrastructure, and maintenance infrastructure and modernization programs already exist. Infrastructure cost deltas are minimal and well known.
Operating costs for each two-crew SSGN, including maintenance, personnel, modernization and support, are estimated to be $50M/yr/ship .
No new land attack missile procurements are needed to fully arm four SSGNs with up to 154 missiles each (140 on SOF-configured SSGNs).
Conversion of existing submarine horizontal TLAMs will provide required number of missiles for four SSGNs (588 missiles) at IOC in 2007.
Remaining submarine TLAM inventory will be carried by deployed VLS SSNs (approx. 300 TLAMs in 2007)
Future programmed buys of Tactical Tomahawk will be used on SSGN and SSNs to replace expended and retired TLAMs.
SSGN is the most efficient method to keep TLAMs forward. Due to their high forward presence (eliminating theater transit and stowage in CONUS) and low costs, the cost of SSGN on a per missile in-theater basis is approximately 1/10 of the cost of any other platform.
The SSGN missile tubes will be accountable strategic launchers by in-force treaty rules (START I).
CINC US Strategic Command has stated that all 96 SSGN launchers can be accommodated within START I limits.
Future treaties will be negotiated to account for SSGN.
Bottom Line:
SSGN is transformational - uses an existing platform and takes advantage of its infrastructure and two-crew operations for a totally new purpose.
The up-front costs are well understood and technical risk is low - the "tails" are relatively small.
DoN has paid and will pay for this infrastructure as part of the Trident SSBN program, with or without SSGN.
SSGN tubes will be filled with existing TLAMs and programmed Tactical Tomahawks in FY2007 - no additional missile buys required.
No strategic treaty show-stoppers for SSGN.
SSGN Modernization will leverage the already existing N77 and Team Submarine modernization philosophy.
Large, flexible payload volume will allow modular, encapsulated future weapons and payloads to be employed by the SSGN.
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