U.S. Navy on track to convert sub to fire Tomahawks, official says

Since 12-11-04

Aerospace Daily, November 04

Excerpted from NSL UPDATE 12-8-04

SUB CONVERSION: The USS Ohio, the first of four Trident ballistic missile submarines being converted to carry Raytheon-built Tomahawk cruise missiles, is on track to achieve an initial operational capability (IOC) in May 2007, says U.S. Navy Capt. Willy Hilarides, the project's overseer.

The USS Ohio is being modified at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., and is about two-thirds of the way through its conversion. The submarine is slated to begin sea trials late next summer, and a series of Tomahawk test firings will take place in the spring of 2007 in advance of the IOC, Hilarides says.

Electric Boat is the industry manager for the $4 billion conversion program, which will allow each submarine to fire up to 154 Tomahawks and carry special operations forces.