The U.S. Navy is embarking on its most ambitious shipbuilding project in decades: the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine. With the third boat, the USS Groton, officially funded in the FY2026 budget, America is betting over $130 billion on a fleet designed to dominate the seas for the next 50 years.What makes the Columbia class the most powerful and stealthy submarine ever built, supposedly 30 years ahead of any rival? We take a deep dive into its game-changing technology, including a revolutionary all-electric drive and an X-shaped stern that makes it virtually undetectable.But this power comes at a staggering cost. As the aging Ohio-class fleet heads for retirement, the U.S. faces immense challenges. Can the shipyards build one of these titans per year as planned? Will the colossal budget cripple other vital Navy programs? Join us as we analyze the incredible capabilities and critical problems of the submarine that will define America’s nuclear deterrence until 2085.