It is rare that something described as having an “immeasurable” impact in the military finishes construction early — and under budget. But the USS Mississippi, which was commissioned over the weekend, can make this claim.



According to the Clarion Ledger, the vessel, which is a member of the Virginia Class submarines, is one of the “most sophisticated attack submarines in U.S. history.” The USS Mississippi is the fifth of the nuclear subs that cost about about $2.6 billion each. It is reported that the USS Mississippi cost only $2 billion and took only 62 months to build.





Virginia-class submarines are designed to dominate the world’s littoral and deep waters, while conducting anti-submarine; anti-surface ship; strike; special operation forces; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; irregular warfare; and mine warfare missions. Their inherent stealth, endurance, firepower, and sensor suite directly enable them to support five of the six maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security, and deterrence.

• Length: 377 feet



• Beam 34 feet



• Displacement: 7,300 tons dived



• Steering and diving control: four-button, two axis joystick



• Acoustics: Lower noise levels using anechoic coatings, isolated deck structures and upgraded propulsor design.



• Weaponry: 12 vertical missile launch tubes; 4 533mm torpedo tubes; capability to launch 16 Tomahawk submarine-launched cruise missiles; capacity for 26 mk48 ADCAP mod 6 heavyweight torpedoes



• Countermeasures: AN/WLY-1 by Northrop Grumman; AN-BLQ-10 electronic support measures system (radar processing, threat warning) by Lockheed Martin



• Advanced sonar and navigation radar



• Boeing LMRS long-term mine reconnaissance system