US Navy Reclassifies 19 Virginia-class Submarines as Guided Missile Vessels

The United States Navy is reclassifying 19 planned nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines from fast-attack submarines to guided-missle submarines (SSGNs). This designation applies to Block V and Block VI platforms, beginning with the future USS Arizona (SSGN 803) expected in fiscal year 2029, with deliveries continuing through 2038.

The shift is driven by the integration of the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), a 70-foot hull extension that increases vertical-launch capacity from 12 to 40 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The VPM also supports hypersonic missiles and unmanned underwater vehicles. This upgrade is intended to maintain undersea dominance and counter the rapid naval expansion of China, specifically providing the capability to penetrate defenses within the first island chain.

This transition aligns with the retirement of aging Ohio-class SSGNs, starting with the USS Georgia. While the new vessels offer superior stealth and adaptability, they possess less individual firepower than the Ohio-class; four Virginia-class submarines are required to match the missile capacity of one Ohio-class boat. To support this effort, the Navy awarded $42.1 billion to General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries for the construction of nine Block VI submarines.

Naval leadership described the reclassification as an acknowledgment of the increased lethality and global reach provided by the VPM, identifying the platforms as critical enablers for Distributed Maritime Operations.