Columbia-Class Submarine Delivery on Track for 2028
The U.S. Navy’s first Columbia-class submarine, the District of Columbia, is set for delivery in 2028, according to Rear Adm. Todd Weeks, Program Executive Officer for Strategic Submarines. Speaking at the WEST 2026 conference in San Diego, Weeks confirmed that full-rate construction of the vessel is anticipated to begin in the early 2030s. The submarine’s construction has faced challenges, but recent acceleration efforts have improved progress significantly.
Progress and Acceleration Plans
Rear Adm. Todd Weeks highlighted that the District of Columbia is currently about 65 to 66 percent complete. He acknowledged that last year, the shipbuilding team recognized they were not meeting their construction targets. To address this, they developed an acceleration plan aimed at delivering all modules of the Columbia-class submarine to General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, by the end of 2025. Notably, the bow section, which was initially scheduled for delivery in June 2025, was completed ahead of schedule in November 2024, marking a significant achievement for the program.
US Navy starts construction of second Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine USS Wisconsin
Weeks emphasized the importance of this momentum, stating, “It built a lot of momentum in the program that we’re continuing to carry on today.” The District of Columbia, which was originally slated for delivery in 2027, is now on track for its 2028 deadline. Meanwhile, the second submarine in the class, the future Wisconsin, is approximately 35 percent complete and remains on schedule for delivery in 2030. Weeks noted that the Wisconsin is one of only two U.S. Navy ships currently under construction that is on track to meet its timeline.
