Navy fast-tracks 'on-time' delivery of nuclear-armed Columbia-class submarine

The entire premise of undersea strategic deterrence is based on the need for nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines to hold potential attackers at risk of catastrophic destruction, without being found, detected, or seen by enemies in any way. 

The new submarines will also need to be higher tech in the sense that they will need to be less detectable, due in large measure to the reality that enemy platforms capable of submarine detection are getting much more advanced through the use of longer-range, more sensitive sonar systems, harder to detect, long-endurance, small undersea sub-hunting drones and advanced methods of aerial submarine detection; some of these detection systems include the use of air-dropped sonobuoys, high-tech sub-hunting surveillance planes and other systems, including the use of surface and shallow-depth laser scanner technologies engineered to find subs on patrol.   In light of this kind of global equation, it is by no means surprising that the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday’s CNO NAVPLAN (Navigation Plan) text specifically cites the pressing need to deliver the new Columbia-class boats … "on time."