On August 27, 2025, General Dynamics Electric Boat held the keel-laying ceremony for USS Wisconsin (SSBN 827) at its Quonset Point facility in Rhode Island. Ship sponsor Dr. Kelly Geurts welded her initials onto a steel plate, marking the official start of construction for the second Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine.
The Columbia-class will be the largest submarines ever built by the United States, measuring 171 meters in length, 13 meters in beam, with a submerged displacement of 20,810 tons. USS Wisconsin will be armed with 16 Trident II D5LE missiles and Mk 48 heavy torpedoes. Its S1B nuclear propulsion system is designed to operate for 42 years without mid-life refueling, supporting an expected 124 deterrent patrols.
Construction is conducted through a modular approach shared between Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries, with hull sections outfitted at Quonset Point and transported for final assembly. Over 3,000 suppliers contribute, including 300 from Wisconsin. The Columbia program, the Navy’s top shipbuilding priority, plans 12 boats to replace retiring Ohio-class SSBNs starting in 2027. USS Wisconsin is scheduled for christening in 2029 and commissioning in 2031.
Ceremonies highlight both strategic nuclear deterrence and Wisconsin’s industrial heritage, emphasizing the link between local workforce contributions and global naval operations. The submarine’s construction underscores the scale of the US strategic deterrent and the interdependence of industrial capability and naval readiness.
