What is a Virginia-class submarine? The standard nuclear attack submarine of the United States.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics Electric Boat + Huntington Ingalls Newport News |
| Length | 115 m (Block I-IV); 140 m (Block V VPM) |
| Diameter | 10.4 m |
| Displacement | ≈7,800 tons submerged (Block IV); ≈10,200 tons (Block V VPM) |
| Crew | ≈135 personnel |
| Reactor | S9G nuclear reactor — reactor operational life without needing replacement |
| Speed | ≈25+ knots submerged |
| Depth | 240+ m |
| Torpedo | 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes + Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes |
| Tomahawk | 12 vertical launch system cells (Block I-IV); 40 (Block V VPM) |
| Special Forces | SEAL team transport capability |
| Intelligence | Multi-sensor suite + sonar array |
| Service | 2004+ (USS Virginia) |
| Fleet | ≈22 operational (2024); 66 planned |
AUKUS Agreement
- 2021: United States-United Kingdom-Australia Partnership
- Australia will purchase 3-5 Virginia-class submarines (2030s)
- First in exporting nuclear submarine technology from the United States
- Issue of Pacific balance concerning China
- Exclusion of France from the agreement — diplomatic crisis
- Support from the UK with Astute submarines
- Ended Australian search for conventional submarines
- Technology of Turkey’s distant horizon
