Nuclear powered cruise missile submarines ssgns and nuclear powered ballistic missile submarines ssbns 1 the ssns and ssgns are multi mission ships that perform a variety of peacetime and wartime missions 2 they do not carry nuclear weapons 3 1 in the designations ssn ssgn and ssbn the ss stands for submarine n stands for nuclear. The columbia ssbn 826 class program is a program to design and build a class of 12 new ballistic missile submarines ssbns to replace the navy s current force of 14 aging ohio class ssbns. The columbia ssbn 826 class program is a program to design and build a class of 12 new ballistic missile submarines ssbns to replace the navy s current force of 14 aging ohio class ssbns.
Each ssgn is capable of carrying 154 tomahawk cruise missiles plus a complement of harpoon missiles to be fired through their torpedo tubes. Each ssbn submarine is armed with up to 24 trident ii submarine launched ballistic missiles slbm. The ssbn submarines provide the sea based leg of the u s.
In the designations ssn ssgn ssbn and ssbn x the ss stands for submarine n stands for nuclear powered meaning the ship is powered by a nuclear reactor g stands for guided missile such as a cruise missile b stands for ballistic missile and x means the design of the ship has not yet been determined. They do not carry nuclear weapons. The first submarine is scheduled to begin construction in 2021 and enter service in 2031.
The columbia class submarine formerly known as the ohio replacement submarine and ssbn x future follow on submarine is an upcoming class of nuclear submarines designed to replace the ohio class ballistic missile submarines in the united states navy.
