What is a Virginia-Class Submarine? The US Standard Nuclear Attack Submarine
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | Nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics Electric Boat + Huntington Ingalls Newport News |
| Length | 115 m (Block I-IV); 140 m (Block V VPM) |
| Diameter | 10.4 m |
| Displacement | ≈7,800 tons submerged (Block IV); ≈10,200 tons (Block V VPM) |
| Crew | ≈135 people |
| Reactor | S9G nuclear reactor — operational life requires no refueling |
| Speed | ≈25+ knots submerged |
| Diving Depth | 240+ m |
| Torpedoes | 4 × 533 mm torpedo tubes + Mk 48 ADCAP torpedoes |
| Tomahawk | 12 vertical launch cells (Block I-IV); 40 (Block V VPM) |
| Special Forces | SEAL team transport capability |
| Intelligence | Multi-sensor + sonar suite |
| Service | 2004+ (USS Virginia) |
| Fleet | ≈22 operational (2024); 66 target |
AUKUS Agreement
- 2021: US-UK-Australia partnership
- Australia will acquire 3-5 Virginia-class submarines (2030s)
- First instance of US nuclear submarine technology export
- A matter of Pacific balance for China
- France excluded from the agreement — diplomatic crisis
- UK to be supported by Astute-class submarines
- Australia’s conventional submarine search has ended
- Distant horizon technology for Turkey
