![]() The first four boats, defined as Block I, were built in 10 modules with each submarine. Block I, III, III, and IV ClassesĪs the first of its class, USS Virginia was laid down on 2 September 1999, launched on16 August 2003, and commissioned on 23 October 2004. Moreover, the submarine was the first US Navy warship designed with the help of computer-aided design and visualization technology. As the fruit of this program, the Virginia class is a less expensive alternative to the Seawolf-class. In 1991, the US Navy started developing new submarines under the Centurion Study Programme. The end of the Cold War caused the further reduction, and only three boats were ever built. The USA planned to build at least 29 Seawolf-classes over ten years, but the number was reduced to 12 because of their high prices. ![]() When the Soviet Navy had changed the balance in the area of the submarines with highly capable Alfa, Akula, and Sierra-classes, the US Navy started working on Seawolf-class in 1983 as the successor of the Los Angeles-class. The submarine can be used for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, land attack, intelligence gathering, and special operation missions. It is effective in both oceans and littorals. The Virginia class is designed to replace the older Los Angeles class, the backbone of the US attack submarine fleet since the 1970s. Now, the US Navy is preparing for the following years’ confrontation undersea with its new Virginia-class submarines. Yet, since a conflict may occur with China and Russia, the submarines have been crucial players on the chessboard on the high seas. ![]() The symbol of the US dominance on the seas is its big surface fleet gathering around the aircraft carriers.
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