USS Delaware (SSN 791) the U.S. Navy’s newest Virginia-class fast attack submarine has successfully
completed the initial sea trials.
Viewers may note that Delaware was put to water for the first time at the company’s
Newport News shipyard on December 17 last year.
The American shipbuilder Huntington Ingalls Inc. which is responsible for building Delaware
stated that the latest submarine was submerged for the first time and performed high-speed
maneuvers on the surface and underwater.
During the trials, Delaware spent three days and validated all of its systems, components,
and compartments.
Dave Bolcar, vice president of submarine construction at Newport News shipyard said,
“Delaware performed well during sea trials, which is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship
of the incredible team of shipbuilders who are working to uphold our high standards of
quality.
We look forward to continuing our testing program to deliver the submarine to the U.S.
Navy later this year.”
The submarine is scheduled to undergo a round of acceptance trials before it is delivered.
In this video, Defense Updates analyses what makes USS Delaware one of the most potent
attack submarine in the world?
Let's get started.
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USS Delaware is the 18th Virginia-class SSN and the 9 to be delivered by Newport News
shipyard.
Construction on Delaware started in September 2013
The boat is the final Virginia-class Block III submarine to be launched.
The U.S. Navy’s Block III fleet will consist of 8 submarines.
The U.S. Navy has already awarded a $17.6 billion contract for 10 Block IV Virginia-class
boats in 2014.
The Virginia class sometimes referred to as SSN-774 class, is a class of nuclear-powered
fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy.
Virginia class is designed 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 till 2070.
Virginia-class submarines are designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral
missions.
Their primary purpose is to take out enemies surface combatants and submarines and the
secondary task is to execute land-attack missions.
USS Delaware has a length of 115 m.
To give viewers a perspective, its length is slightly greater than that of a football
field.
It displaces around 7,900 tons.
USS Delaware like all other Block III variant is acknowledged to be able to move to depths
of 240 m (800 feet) but allegedly capable of going down to 490 m (1,600 feet).
A single S9G reactor that produces around 30 MW powers USS Delaware.
The reactor features improved corrosion resistance and reduced life-cycle costs.
It also has reduced size and weight enabling the submarine to pack more weapons and sensors.
The S9G reactor is designed to operate for 33 years without refueling.
So USS Delaware has a practically unlimited range, limited by only food supplies and maintenance
requirements.
The reactor produces enough power to propel USS Delaware over 25 knots that is 46 km/hr
or 29 mph, though the actual numbers are classified and may be significantly higher.
The Virginia class is the first to use photonic sensors instead of a traditional periscope.
The class is equipped with high-resolution cameras, along with light-intensification
and infrared sensors as well as an infrared laser rangefinder.
Block III variant of Virginia-class is has redesigned elements and feature several types
of sonar arrays.
1. It incorporates a Large-Aperture Bow (LAB) water-backed array, which replaces the traditional
air-backed spherical array.
This is main sonar is one of the most powerful sonars mounted in any of the submarines in
the world.
2. Two high-frequency active sonars mounted in the sail and bow.
These supplements the main sonar array improving anti-submarine warfare performance.
3. A fiber optic sonar array, consisting of 3 flat panels are present in either side of the hull.
4. For coverage above and behind the submarine, a High-frequency sonar is mounted on both
sides of the submarine’s sail.
USS Delaware is also equipped with a low frequency towed sonar array and a high frequency towed
sonar array.
USS Delaware is deadly as it is packed with different kinds of weapons to knock out varied
targets.
1. Two large-diameter Virginia Payload Tubes, each capable of launching 6 Tomahawk cruise
missiles for a total of 12 missiles.
Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, cruise missile that is used for land attacks.
It has a long range of 1200 to 2500 km, enabling them to be launched from far off.
2. Four 533 mm torpedo tubes for the Mk-48 torpedo.
There is a capacity to carry up to 24 Mk-48 torpedoes in the weapon's chamber.
These torpedoes have a range in excess of 50 km or 31 miles and can be used to take
out enemy submarines and surface vessels.
3. Like all Virginia class, Delaware can also lay different types of mines including the
MK-60 Captor Encapsulated Torpedo mines.
4. An integral lock-out/lock-in chamber is incorporated into the hull for special operations.
The chamber can host a mini-submarine, such as Northrop Grumman’s Advanced SEALS Delivery
System that can be used to transport special warfare forces such as Navy SEAL teams.
The sophisticated sensors and weaponry make USS Delaware one of the most potent attack
submarines.
The main rival of the U.S - Russia has worked to enhance its naval capabilities since 2000
and is deploying several classes of submarines.
Russia plans to build a total of 8 Yasen M class submarines.
Yasen M is intended to destroy US aircraft carriers.
Kazan the first Yasen M class is undergoing sea trials and is expected to be commissioned
in 2020.
5 others Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Arkhangelsk, Perm & Ulyanovsk are currently under construction,
at the Sevmash shipyards at the White Sea port city of Severodvinsk.
The latest Kilo-class submarine of the Russian fleet is also a force to take note of.
Though Kilo class is nothing new and has even around in some form or another since the 1980s,
the newest 6 submarines of this class represent a significant evolution.
It must be noted that one of those submarine Krasnodar was dubbed as Black Hole by some
analysts.
Out of the blue on May 29, 2017, a series of cruise missiles tore through the air towards
targets around Syria’s besieged city of Palmyra.
They were Russian missiles and they came from the Krasnodar which remained undetected before
the missile launch.
The Russians are also building two other new designs.
Both are nuclear powered, The Borei class are Russia’s new generation of ballistic
missile submarines — the cornerstone and most survivable part of its nuclear arsenal.
Russia’s growing state-of-the-art submarine fleet has been a source of concern for the
U.S military.
In June 2016, Vice Admiral James Foggo 3, commander of the US 6th Fleet, wrote in the
June issue of the US Naval Institute’s magazine that, “an effective, skilled, and technologically
advanced Russian submarine force is challenging” NATO’s maritime dominance.
Not only is Russia developing more powerful submarines but is also deploying them in more
patrols.
In 2017, Admiral Vladimir Korolyov, the commander-in-chief of the Russian navy, said his submarine crews
spent more than 3,000 days under the water last year alone.
He added Russian subs are patrolling the seas at levels last seen during the Cold War.
Things have not changed since then.
Keeping all these in view, it is paramount that the U.S introduces the Virginia class
attack submarines as per the plan and without delay.
USS Delaware is a welcome addition in this regard.