2012 - How to Build a Better Submarine

This is an article by Capt(Ret) John Heffron. Captain Heffron was the Virginia-class submarine program manager from 2001 until his 2005 retirement from the Navy. During that time and subsequently he has had firsthand experience with the Astute submarine program in the UK, and with the Collins and Future programs in Australia. He delivered the USS Virginia (SSN-774), first ship of the class.

This article is largely a summary of the key points from The VIRGINIA CLASS Submarine Program: A Case Study February 2002.