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Don't know if this grand wank is ASB or not...

Instead of the F-35 program, the US military spends that money on more submarines. Starting in 1991, the US Navy plans to build 52 Seawolf-class submarines as quickly as possible. Then, in 2000, they start ordering 126 Virginia-class submarines. To upgrade submarines further, extensive development in UUVs is done. The necessary tenders and support vessels are built. This is done on the belief that aircraft carriers and surface ships are becoming obsolete.

Additionally, Virginias are different than OTL, in that they are designed with really good UUV capacity.

In 2000, the Navy begins a 10 billion dollar program for UUVs mainly for the Virginias, but also Seawolfs and Columbias. These UUVs disarm mines, do recon, launch UAVs, etc. Some launch from torpedo tubes, others stick onto the submarines.

Edit: The US also plans to build 36 Columbia-class submarines. 24 of them are SSGNs also serving the role of "false" SSBNs, which carry a ton of cruise missiles. The other 12 carry nuclear weapons.

Seawolf-class: 52 submarines
  • Seawolf subgroup: 12
  • (Improved Seawolf): 20
  • (Improved Seawolf 2): 16
  • Jimmy Carter subgroup: 4
Virginia-class: 126 submarines
  • Block I: 4
  • Block II: 6
  • Block III: 8
  • Block IV: 10
  • Block V: 15
  • Block VI: 19
  • Block VII: 22
  • Block VIII: 22
  • Block IX: 11
  • Block X: 9
Columbia-class: 36 submarines
  • Dedicated SSBN: 12
  • Dedicated SSGN: 10
  • Dedicated SSGN Improved: 14
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