The US Department of the Navy has reclassified 19 planned Virginia-class submarines equipped with the Virginia payload module (VPM) as nuclear-powered guided-missile submarines (SSGNs).
The US Navy said this shift will differentiate these platforms from traditional Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines (SSNs), "signaling a leap forward in undersea warfighting capability, lethal combat power, and global deterrence."
"These VPM-equipped SSGNs will ensure the navy continues to dominate the undersea domain for decades to come," said Vice Admiral Rob Gaucher, Director, Submarine Programs. "By integrating this additional payload capacity, we will have the ability to surge strike power to assure our allies, deter aggression, outmatch any adversary, and give our fleet commanders an incredibly versatile, hard-hitting instrument of national power."
The VPM is a specially developed payload module that can house up to 28 guided missiles for striking shore targets. General Dynamics Electric Boat said that, with the aid of this module, the strike capacity of each Virginia-class submarine will be increased by as much as 230 per cent per ship while increasing overall cost by less than 15 per cent.
The first VPM platform, the future USS Arizona, is scheduled for delivery in FY2029, while deliveries of the remaining SSGNs will take place through FY2038.