VIRGINIA-CLASS SSN

The Virginia-class is the US Navy's frontline attack submarine, designed to replace Los Angeles-class boats and excel in both deep-ocean and littoral (shallow coastal) environments. Block V Virginias introduced the Virginia Payload Module, adding 28 additional Tomahawk VLS tubes — giving a single submarine the ability to strike 40 land targets simultaneously. The class uses commercial off-the-shelf electronics and modular construction, reducing costs and allowing rapid upgrades. Critically, it carries no periscope — replacing it with fiber-optic photonics masts that can be extended without surfacing. Australia's acquisition of 3–5 Virginia-class boats under the AUKUS agreement (delivery ~2032) represents the first nuclear submarine transfer to a non-P5 nation since the UK's arrangement with the US in 1958.