US Navy Upgrades Virginia-Class Fleet With New SSGN Designation The US Navy has reclassified 19 planned Virginia-class submarines as guided missile submarines (SSGN), reflecting a major increase in their long-range strike capability. The designation applies to Block V and Block VI variants fitted with the 84-foot Virginia Payload Module, which incorporates four additional vertical launch tubes and expands payload capacity by 28 Tomahawk cruise missiles or hypersonic weapons, bringing the total to 40 missiles. The enhanced submarines will replace the retiring Ohio-class SSGNs, including USS Georgia (SSBN 729), while reinforcing US naval firepower in contested maritime environments. The first VPM-equipped submarine, USS Arizona (SSGN 803), is slated for delivery in 2029, with the remaining vessels entering service through 2038.
