U.S. Navy receives eighteenth Virginia-class nuclear submarine

The U.S. Navy handed over a new nuclear submarine SSN 971 Delaware, the Pentagon press service reported on April 5. The eighteenth Virginia-class submarine was accepted by the military without a solemn ceremony due to the coronavirus pandemic and the regime of restrictions on mass public events. However, SSN 971 Delaware has been officially assigned to the Navy since April 4. The submarine was built from April 30, 2016. The running tests were completed on 31 August 2019. The 115-metre long nuclear submarine, with a displacement of 7,800 tons, is capable of 240 to a depth of up to Mk.48 metres, armed with ADCAP torpedo and Tomahawk cruise missiles. Submarines of this class are to replace Los Angeles-class submarines and are designed to handle a wide range of combat and reconnaissance tasks in both coastal areas and the ocean.