According to information published by the U.S. DoD on March 15, 2022, the Submarine Force’s newest attack submarine, the future USS Montana (SSN 794), was delivered to the U.S. Navy.
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Virginia class submarine USS Montana (Picture source: HII)
PCU Montana is the 21st Virginia Class submarine co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Industries – Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) through a long-standing teaming agreement. Montana is the tenth Virginia Class delivered by HII-NNS and the third Block IV configured submarine.
Virginia Class Submarines are built to operate in the world's littoral and deep waters while conducting anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface ship warfare; strike warfare; special operations forces support; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions.
Their inherent stealth, endurance, mobility, and firepower directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities - sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.
The Virginia-class submarine has a length of 114.8 m, a beam of 10.36 m, and a displacement of approximately 7,800 tons. The submarine can reach a top speed of 28 miles per hour (45 km/h). She has a crew of 132 people including 15 officers and 117 enlisted.
In contrast to a traditional bladed propeller, the Virginia class uses pump-jet propulsors by BAE Systems, originally developed for the Royal Navy's Swiftsure-class submarines. The propulsor significantly reduces the risks of cavitation and allows quieter operation.
