Articles tagged with "naval-engineering"
Why refueling a nuclear submarine can take more than three years
Refueling a nuclear submarine is an exceptionally complex and time-consuming process that can take up to three years or more. Unlike conventional refueling, nuclear submarine refueling involves removing the vessel from water, powering it down, and accessing the reactor core, which is deeply embedded within the submarine’s hull and shielded for radiation protection. This requires dismantling major components, including shielding, panels, cables, and bolts, all meticulously logged and inspected by a specialized team of experts in radiation safety, nuclear engineering, and naval architecture. The intricate nature of this operation, combined with the need for a radiation-shielded facility, contributes to its high cost and lengthy duration. The actual refueling involves replacing the highly enriched uranium fuel in the reactor core, but this is not the primary reason submarines resurface, as a small amount of fuel can power them for decades. Instead, refueling periods are often used to perform extensive overhauls and upgrades to the submarine’s systems to keep pace with evolving military technologies
energynuclear-energysubmarine-technologynuclear-reactorsnaval-engineeringnuclear-propulsionreactor-refuelingFrance to develop Europe's biggest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier
France has officially announced plans to build a new, larger nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Porte-Avions Nouvelle Génération (PANG), to replace its aging Charles de Gaulle. President Emmanuel Macron revealed the decision during a visit to French troops in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the carrier’s strategic importance for France’s maritime power projection and nuclear deterrence. The PANG is projected to cost around €10.25 billion ($12 billion) and is expected to enter service by 2038, coinciding with the retirement of the Charles de Gaulle. This vessel will be the largest warship ever built in Europe, reinforcing France’s position as the EU’s only nuclear-armed state operating a nuclear-powered carrier. The program also aims to bolster France’s industrial base, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises. The PANG will be significantly larger than its predecessor, displacing about 78,000 tonnes compared to the Charles de Gaulle’s 42,000 tonnes, and measuring approximately 310 meters in length with
energynuclear-propulsionaircraft-carriermaritime-powerdefense-technologyelectrified-power-systemnaval-engineering40 Tomahawks on One Submarine — Block V Virginia-Class
The Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines represent a pinnacle of undersea warfare technology, combining decades of innovation into a highly advanced and adaptable platform. These submarines are designed for stealth, endurance, and versatility, featuring near-silent propulsion systems, anechoic coatings, and isolated machinery to minimize noise and avoid detection. Powered by nuclear reactors that last the vessel’s entire service life, they carry about 130 crew members and can undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, land attacks, special operations support, and deployment of unmanned underwater vehicles. A significant advancement in the class is the Block V variant, which incorporates the Virginia Payload Module (VPM)—an 84-foot hull extension housing four large missile tubes capable of launching up to 28 additional Tomahawk cruise missiles. This enhancement effectively transforms the submarine into a near-arsenal platform, compensating for the retirement of Ohio-class guided-missile submarines and reinforcing U.S. and allied naval
energynuclear-reactorsubmarine-technologypropulsion-systemsmilitary-materialsunmanned-underwater-vehiclesnaval-engineeringNew 7,000-ton nuclear submarine could choke 60% of China’s sea trade
India is nearing the induction of its third indigenously built nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), INS Aridhaman, which is in the final trial phase. Following INS Arihant and INS Arighaat, Aridhaman will significantly enhance India’s sea-based nuclear deterrent by carrying more long-range K-4 submarine-launched ballistic missiles with a range of about 3,500 kilometers. At roughly 7,000 tons and 125 meters long, it is larger than its predecessors, offering greater missile capacity, improved survivability, and advanced sonar and defensive countermeasure systems. A fourth SSBN is also under construction to further strengthen India’s continuous at-sea deterrence capability. The commissioning of Aridhaman advances India’s strategic goal of a credible nuclear triad—land, air, and sea-based nuclear delivery systems—by improving the survivability and stealth of its nuclear forces. The submarine fleet expansion has strategic implications for regional maritime security, particularly in the
energynuclear-energysubmarine-technologydefense-technologymissile-systemsnaval-engineeringstrategic-deterrenceUS Navy to add largest-ever 20,800-ton nuclear missile submarines
The Pentagon awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $2.28 billion contract on November 17 to support the advanced procurement and construction of five Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines (hulls SSBN-828 through SSBN-832). These submarines represent the next-generation fleet that will serve as the cornerstone of the U.S. sea-based nuclear deterrent for the next 50 years. Work will primarily occur at Electric Boat’s Groton, Connecticut shipyard, with additional activities in Rhode Island and Virginia, coordinated alongside the Naval Sea Systems Command. This contract is part of a long-term effort to replace the aging Ohio-class submarines, which have been the backbone of the U.S. nuclear triad’s sea leg since the 1980s. The Navy plans to field 12 Columbia-class submarines to replace its current fleet of 14 Ohio-class boats, which will begin retiring at a rate of one per year starting in 2027. The Columbia-class subs, the largest ever built for
energynuclear-energysubmarine-technologydefense-technologymaterials-engineeringnaval-engineeringpropulsion-systemsWorld's largest 80,000-ton aircraft carrier enters service in China
China has commissioned its third and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, marking a significant milestone for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Launched in June 2022 and entering sea trials in May 2024, the Fujian is the world’s largest non-nuclear warship with a displacement exceeding 80,000 tons. It is the first Chinese carrier equipped with electromagnetic catapult launch technology, a system that allows faster, heavier aircraft launches compared to the ski-jump decks on earlier carriers. This technology places China alongside the United States, whose USS Gerald R. Ford is the only other carrier with electromagnetic catapults. The Fujian’s commissioning ceremony was presided over by President Xi Jinping, highlighting the strategic importance of the vessel in extending China’s naval power projection. The Fujian is designed to carry a mix of advanced aircraft, including the J-35A stealth fighter—China’s first carrier-based stealth jet and only the second such aircraft globally after the U.S.
energyelectromagnetic-catapultaircraft-carriermilitary-technologypropulsion-systemnaval-engineeringadvanced-materialsUS finishes initial trials of 10,200-ton nuclear super submarine
The US Navy has successfully completed the initial sea trials of the Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine Massachusetts (SSN 798), a 10,200-ton vessel and the 25th in its class. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding division, the submarine underwent a series of tests including its first submergence and high-speed maneuvers both on the surface and underwater. These trials mark a significant milestone before the submarine’s formal delivery to the Navy. Massachusetts, christened in May 2023, will soon join the Navy’s fast-attack fleet, enhancing its operational capabilities. Virginia-class submarines are highly advanced, versatile platforms designed for a wide range of missions such as anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, Tomahawk missile strikes, intelligence gathering, mine warfare, and Special Operations Forces deployment. Powered by nuclear reactors, they offer superior stealth, mobility, and endurance compared to conventional submarines. The class replaces the aging Los Angeles-class submarines and incorporates modular
energynuclear-propulsionsubmarine-technologynaval-engineeringVirginia-class-submarinesmissile-systemsstealth-technology20,800-ton future submarine could be survivable leg of US nuclear triad
Construction has begun on the USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827), a 20,800-ton Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine that will serve as a survivable leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. This vessel, the second of its class following the USS District of Columbia, is designed specifically for stealth and will replace the aging Ohio-class submarines. Ballistic missile submarines, often called "boomers," provide an undetectable launch platform for submarine-launched ballistic missiles, ensuring a credible second-strike capability and forming the backbone of the U.S. strategic deterrence strategy. The keel-laying ceremony took place on August 27, 2025, at General Dynamics Electric Boat’s Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island, with over 300 defense contractors and suppliers from Wisconsin supporting the submarine’s development. The USS Wisconsin will be operated by two crews, Blue and Gold, who will maintain and operate the nuclear-powered vessel to fulfill its mission of deterrence. The Columbia-class program
energynuclear-propulsionsubmarine-technologydefense-contractorsstealth-technologystrategic-deterrencenaval-engineeringRussia’s stealth nuclear submarine’s secrets out, Ukraine claims
Ukraine’s defense intelligence agency, HUR, claims to have obtained sensitive engineering documents and operational details about Russia’s newest stealth nuclear-powered submarine, the Knyaz Pozharsky, a Borei-A (Project 955A) class ballistic missile submarine commissioned in July 2025. This vessel, one of the most modern in Russia’s naval fleet, carries Bulava ballistic missiles capable of striking targets up to 8,000 km away, each missile armed with up to 10 warheads. The submarine features advanced navigation, sonar, and stealth technologies, powered by a VM-5 pressurized water reactor, and displaces 24,000 tons submerged, making it larger than the U.S. Ohio-class submarines. The leaked documents reportedly reveal detailed technical specifications, crew operations, combat layouts, and internal issues such as a deformed radio beacon, along with investigation records and daily schedules of the crew. These insights could expose vulnerabilities and shortcomings in the Borei-A class, which is
energynuclear-energysubmarine-technologymilitary-technologystealth-technologyballistic-missilesnaval-engineering