Archive · 9 Aug 2026
US Navy Adds Missile Cells to 19 Virginia-Class Submarines
The United States Navy is making some of its submarines, underwater boats that can travel in secret, stronger.
The Navy wants 19 new Virginia-class submarines to carry many more missiles than before.
A special 84-foot-long part called the Virginia Payload Module will be added to each one.
That part gives each submarine 28 extra missile-launch cells.
With this change, each submarine will have 40 missile cells instead of 12.
The Navy wants these submarines to sneak close to China's missile defenses without being seen.
That could give the US an advantage in a possible conflict with China in the Pacific.
Four older Ohio-class submarines, each able to carry up to 154 missiles, are being retired.
The USS Georgia, one of those older submarines, has already started being turned off.
China has launched more submarines than the US in recent years, so America is trying to keep up.
The Pentagon will convert 19 planned Virginia-class attack submarines into guided-missile submarines, or SSGNs.
The Virginia Payload Module, an 84-foot section, adds 28 missile-launch cells, raising each submarine's total from 12 to 40 cells.
The upgraded submarines can carry Tomahawk cruise missiles and newer hypersonic weapons to support a possible conflict with China in the Pacific.
The four Ohio-class SSGNs, which carry up to 154 Tomahawk missiles each, are being retired, with the USS Georgia already starting deactivation.
China launched 10 submarines between 2021 and 2025 compared with seven by the US, including 79,000 tonnes of tonnage versus 55,000 tonnes.
- Who
- The US Navy and Pentagon, with analysis from Sidharth Kaushal of the Royal United Services Institute; China is the strategic rival cited.
- What
- The US plans to reclassify 19 planned Virginia-class attack submarines as guided-missile submarines with 40 missile-launch cells each.
- When
- The timeline of the decision is not specified; the USS Georgia has already begun deactivation, with the other Ohio-class SSGNs to follow over coming years.
- Where
- The Pacific region, especially near the first island chain stretching from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines.
- Why
- To give the US an advantage in a possible conflict with China by letting submarines get close to Chinese missile defenses without being easily detected.
- Planned Virginia-class SSGNs
- 19 submarines
- Virginia Payload Module length
- 84 feet
- Additional missile cells per VPM
- 28 cells
- Total missile cells after upgrade
- 40 cells (up from 12)
- Missile types carried
- Tomahawk cruise missiles and hypersonic weapons
- Ohio-class SSGN missile capacity
- Up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles
- Virginia-class SSGN relative capacity
- About 26% of an Ohio-class SSGN's missile load
- Submarine launches 2021-2025
- China 10 vs US 7 (tonnage: 79,000 vs 55,000 tonnes)