2,080 Tomahawk Cells Vanish as Navy Faces Aging Submarine Gap

A routine fleet-planning review reveals a shortfall of 2,080 vertical launch system cells as four aging Ohio-class SSGNs and a cadre of cruisers retire, leaving the Navy with a significant conventional strike gap. Even with Virginia- and Columbia-class replacements, shipyard labor shortages, backlogs, and aging hulls mean the gap will persist, complicating deterring and sustaining long-range operations.”