Pentagon Gives a Mixed Review on Virginia Class

"Because Navy security rules prohibit Virginia conducting exercises with foreign diesel-electric submarines (SSKs), the Navy finished IOT&E without testing the Virginia class submarine against this primary threat of record. The Navy began investigating alternative testing strategies against the SSK threat of record."

No, that isn't my opinion, that is from the 2010 DOTE Annual Report (PDF) discussing Virginia class submarines. Below is the assessment section, I highlighted in bold what I thought was very interesting.

Assessment

DOT&E’s classified BLRIP report on Virginia’s performance concluded the following:

• Virginia is an effective, suitable, and survivable replacement for the Los Angeles submarine, with improvements in acoustic and electromagnetic covertness.
• Virginia’s operational effectiveness is dependent on the mission conducted. Virginia is effective for conducting Strike Operations, minefield avoidance operations, Battle Group Support, and Anti-Surface Ship Warfare attack (in most scenarios).
• Virginia is effective for conducting ASW against some submarines, but is not effective in some environments or against most quiet threats of record. It is not clear that any passive sonar system using existing or planned technology could be effective in all environments or against quiet threats.
• Virginia is effective for conducting some limited ISR missions depending on the intelligence collection requirements; however, additional testing is required.
• Virginia was not fully evaluated for the Naval Special Warfare mission, but has the potential to use the installed Lock-Out Trunk for Special Operations Force operations once the Navy certifies Virginia for diver oxygen recompression and storage of Special Warfare equipment and ordinance. Further testing is required to evaluate Virginia’s capability with a Dry-Deck Shelter.
• Virginia is operationally suitable. However, the reliability of several key engineering plant components, NPES equipment, Government Furnished Equipment, and the Photonics Mast need improvement.
• Operational and Live Fire testing demonstrated that the Virginia class submarine is survivable in most expected threat environments. Details of the survivability assessment are classified and contained in the BLRIP report.

The Navy has achieved some testing efficiencies by combining operational testing of several programs into consolidated test events.
With the completion of IOT&E, assessment of the Virginia class has shifted to the following areas:

• Modernization of the Virginia class submarine’s NPES. These changes to the class require testing to assess the effects of the combat system upgrades on ASW, ASUW, STW, Mine Avoidance, and Information Assurance capabilities.
• Verification of the correction of deficiencies discovered in IOT&E. The Navy expects to correct and retest many of the deficient areas in the upcoming modernization FOT&E period. Other efforts to retest deficient performance are under discussion and the Navy is tracking each issue identified by the Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force (COTF) and DOT&E from their respective IOT&E reports.
• Operational testing not completed during IOT&E. Virginia’s IOT&E did not include testing of ASW capabilities in the Arctic environment (planned for 2QFY11), susceptibility to Low-Frequency Active sonar systems (completed in 4QFY10), special operations forces deployment from a Dry-Deck Shelter (planned for FY13), and ASW capabilities against diesel-electric submarines (unknown completion date).

Virginia’s mission performance is significantly dependent on supporting acquisition programs that make up the Virginia combat and weapons systems. The performance requirements or demonstrated performance of some NPES components do not support meeting Virginia’s requirements. The A-RCI Sonar AN/BQQ-10, the TB-29 series towed array, the AN/ BLQ-10 Electronics Support Measures and the Mk 48 Advanced Capability torpedo are examples of systems with known performance limitations or reliability problems that affected Virginia’s performance during IOT&E.

Underwater warfare means network warfare in the 21st century. A lot to think about here.