General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) held a keel laying ceremony for the nuclear-powered submarine USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) at the company's Quonset Point, Rhode Island facility, GDEB announced.
"With a focus on strategic deterrence, this submarine is critical for our national defense and will be built with the commitment to excellence our shipbuilders bring to their work each and every day," the company said in a statement.
The USS Wisconsin submarine will be the second Columbia-class ship. The first, the USS District of Columbia, began construction in June 2022. Both are intended to replace the aging Ohio-class submarines that were built during the Cold War.
The Columbia-class submarines will be armed with 16 Trident D5 ballistic missiles, which can fly up to 12,000 km and carry thermonuclear warheads. The main body of the missile is divided, with each module having its own guidance.
The submarine will be 171 m long and will carry a crew of 155 people. A total of 12 Columbia-type submarines are planned to be built.