US Navy Reclassifies Virginia-Class Submarines as SSGNsThe US Navy has officially redesignated 19 future Virginia-class submarines as guided missile submarines (SSGNs), marking a major enhancement in the fleet’s long-range strike capabilities. The reclassification covers Block V and Block VI Virginia-class boats equipped with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM), an 84-foot (26-meter) hull extension that significantly increases missile capacity. By incorporating four large vertical launch tubes, the VPM enables each submarine to carry an additional 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles or future hypersonic weapons, raising the total payload to 40 missiles. This change distinguishes the heavily armed submarines from conventional Virginia-class attack submarines as the Navy prepares to retire its aging Ohio-class SSGN fleet. The retirement process has already begun with USS Georgia (SSBN 729), which served for more than four decades. The new Virginia-class SSGNs are expected to preserve the Navy’s undersea strike capability while supporting Distributed Maritime Operations in contested environments. The first VPM-equipped submarine, the future USS Arizona (SSGN 803), is scheduled for delivery in 2029, while the remaining submarines are expected to enter service through 2038.
