What is a Virginia-class submarine? The standard nuclear attack submarine of the United States.
Virginia Class
General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Newport News are nuclear attack submarines powered by nuclear energy (SSN — Submarine, Submarine, Nuclear). They are the successor to the Los Angeles class; in service since 2004, and still in production (in Block V version). Tomahawk missiles, Mk 48 torpedoes, special operations, intelligence and reconnaissance. They are being sold to Australia under the AUKUS agreement. They are the backbone of the United States’ deep maritime control.
What is the Virginia Class Submarine?
Virginia Class (SSN-774) is a nuclear attack submarine operational since 2004 as a successor to the Los Angeles class (1970s – 1990s) of the U.S. Navy. Manufacturing partners: General Dynamics Electric Boat (Connecticut) and Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding (Virginia).
The “attack submarine” (SSN — Submarine, Submarine, Nuclear) differs from the “ballistic missile submarine” (SSBN):
- SSBN — Ohio class / Columbia class; one of the pillars of nuclear deterrence, carries ballistic missiles, and patrols the sea continuously.
- SSN — Virginia class; a multi-mission war submarine. It strikes enemy ships, launches Tomahawks ashore, carries special forces, and 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, 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, the United Kingdom, and Australia; planning to sell nuclear Virginia submarines to Australia (about 3-5 submarines, starting from 2030). This was the first decision by the United States to share nuclear submarine technology with another country.
From Turkey’s perspective: Turkey is developing a MILDEN (TF-100) conventional diesel-electric / AIP submarine. The nuclear submarine is not even a long-term goal for Turkey; the nuclear submarine club is closed outside of the United States / Russia / China / France / United Kingdom / India (Australia entered with AUKUS).
