Its counterparts in the worldUnited StatesNuclear submarineGeneral DynamicsSSN

Virginia Class

The new attack submarine of the United States after the Cold War

General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Newport News are the joint manufacturers of the nuclear attack submarine (SSN — Submarine, Ship, Nuclear). It is the successor to the Los Angeles class; in service since 2004, and production is still ongoing (in Block V version). Tomahawk missile, Mk 48 torpedo, special operations, intelligence and reconnaissance. It is being sold to Australia under the AUKUS agreement. The backbone of the United States’ deep maritime control.

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• What is the Virginia Class Submarine?

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What is the Virginia Class Submarine?

Virginia Class (SSN-774) is a nuclear attack submarine that has been in service since 2004 as the successor to the Los Angeles Class (1970-1990) of the U.S. Navy. The producing partnership: General Dynamics Electric Boat (Connecticut) and Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding (Virginia).

The “attack submarine” (SSN — Submarine, Ship, Nuclear) differs from the “ballistic missile submarine” (SSBN):

• SSBN — Ohio Class / Columbia Class; part of the nuclear deterrent, carries ballistic missiles, continuously patrolling the sea.
• SSN — Virginia Class; a multi-mission war submarine. Strikes enemy ships, launches Tomahawks at the coast, carries special forces, conducts intelligence and reconnaissance operations.

Variants of the Virginia Class:

• Block I-II (SSN-774 to SSN-783) — Early production, basic capabilities.
• Block III (SSN-784 to SSN-791) — New bow design, improved torpedo room.
• Block IV (SSN-792 to SSN-801) — Lifecycle improvements.
• Block V (SSN-802+) — Virginia Payload Module (VPM) — A 25-meter section added to the hull, carrying 40 Tomahawks or hypersonic munitions.

AUKUS Agreement (2021): A trilateral partnership between the United States, Britain, and Australia; planning to sell nuclear Virginia Class submarines to Australia (about 3-5 submarines, starting from 2030). This was the first time the United States decided to share nuclear submarine technology with another country.

Turkey’s perspective: Turkey is developing the MİLDEN (TF-100) submarine using a conventional diesel/AIP submarine. The nuclear submarine is not even a long-term goal for Turkey; outside of current members (the U.S. / Russia / China / France / Britain / India), the nuclear submarine club is closed (Australia entered under AUKUS).