Keel authentication ceremony held for Virginia-class submarine Oklahoma.

According to a PR published by Huntington Ingalls Industries on August 2, 2023, the firm conducted the keel authentication ceremony for the Virginia-class attack submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802).
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Keel authentication ceremony for the Virginia class submarine Oklahoma. (Picture source: HII)

Oklahoma is the latest entrant, the 29th to be precise, in the series of Virginia-class rapid attack submarines. Additionally, it's the first in the Block V series and the 14th submarine that NNS is set to deliver.

About the Block V

The Block V Virginia-class submarines are a new generation of nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines designed by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries.

These state-of-the-art submarines feature the latest advancements in stealth technology, intelligence gathering, and weapons systems, marking a significant upgrade over the earlier Block I to IV submarines.

The ten submarines of Block V are planned to be incorporated with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) which will endow them with a guided missile capability.

Block V boats, starting from the second submarine, SSN-803, are expected to include the VPM, which would significantly increase the submarines' strike capabilities, tripling the number of shore targets each boat can handle.

The construction of these advanced submarines was initially slated to begin in 2019 but was deferred to 2020. The increase in size will make the Block V the second-longest US submarine, only surpassed by the Ohio class.

The Virginia class, or SSN-774 class, is currently the latest class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast-attack submarines in service with the United States Navy, set to replace the older Los Angeles-class submarines.

The Virginia-class submarines are planned for acquisition through 2043 and are expected to remain in service until at least 2060, with later submarines anticipated to operate into the 2070s.

The key specifications of the Block V submarines include a displacement of 10,200 tons, a length of 460 ft, and a beam of 34 ft. Powered by a S9G nuclear reactor, the propulsion system consists of two steam turbines and a single shaft pump-jet propulsor. These submarines have an unlimited range, can reach speeds of over 25 knots, and can operate at depths over 800 ft.

In terms of armament, Block V submarines will feature a VPM module for carrying 28 Tomahawk BGM-109 missiles, in addition to 12 VLS tubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles and 4 torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes or UGM-84 Harpoon missiles. With this, the total capacity of torpedoes and missiles increases to 65.