Lengthening Virginia has an accounting attraction because it adds to a proven design. The concern is that repeated additions change what the submarine was originally conceived to do. New sections accommodate further missions while retaining the identity of the existing class. The criticism therefore treats this as mission creep even though reuse of the design has a practical rationale.
Notable Point · 1:11:06-1:11:45
Virginia lengthening and the mission-creep concern
Reusing Virginia's proven design has an accounting rationale, while repeated extensions raise concern about changing its original mission.