All articles tagged with #submarines
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.”
The Navy decided to inactivate the Los Angeles-class submarine USS Boise after a stalled overhaul that’s only 22% complete; about $800 million has been spent with a projected total cost of up to $3 billion. The decision reallocates funds and skilled labor to new Virginia and Columbia-class submarines, amid long-running maintenance backlogs and limited U.S. shipyard capacity. Boise hasn’t sailed since 2015 and lost dive certification in 2017, illustrating broader challenges facing naval readiness and shipbuilding.
Britain and its allies publicly exposed a covert Russian submarine operation near UK waters, saying an attack submarine briefly entered international waters in the High North as a distraction before Russian vessels from GUGI, including an Akula-class submarine, retreated after being tracked 24/7 by the Royal Navy (Type 23 frigate HMS St Albans), RFA Tideforce, Merlin helicopters, and RAF P-8 aircraft with ally support such as Norway. The incident highlights rising Russian threats to underwater infrastructure, including subsea cables, and the government’s pledge to defend them. It also notes a large defence spending push (e.g., £100m for P-8s and the Atlantic Bastion programme) and continued monitoring of Russian activity near UK waters.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed three Royal Australian Navy personnel were aboard a U.S. Virginia-class submarine involved in the attack on an Iranian frigate, stressing they did not participate in offensive action; the incident has sparked debate over naval-warfare legality and underscores Australia’s ongoing AUKUS-related training with U.S. and U.K. submarines as more sailors rotate into SSNs.
President Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia after social media spat with Dmitry Medvedev, but Russia's response has been dismissive, suggesting no immediate escalation or reaction from Moscow. The incident highlights Trump's unpredictable approach and the potential use of surprise military moves as strategic leverage, though it does not appear to signal an imminent nuclear standoff.
The UK plans to build up to 12 new attack submarines and invest heavily in nuclear and other military capabilities to enhance war-fighting readiness amid rising global tensions, particularly concerning Russian aggression and the war in Ukraine, as part of a broader strategic defense review.
The USS New Jersey has become the first U.S. Navy submarine designed with women in mind, featuring accommodations for a significant number of female crew members. This historic move follows the Navy's 2010 decision to allow women on submarines, and the New Jersey now boasts a crew with about 40 women, the largest on any fast attack submarine. The integration of women is seen as enhancing performance and diversity, with studies suggesting diverse crews perform up to 20% better. The New Jersey is also the Navy's most advanced fast attack submarine, equipped with Tomahawk missiles and torpedoes.
A House panel is pushing for the US Navy to buy two attack submarines in fiscal 2025, despite the Navy requesting just one. The Navy argues that advanced procurement funds and investments in the submarine-industrial base can compensate for the lack of a second submarine, but lawmakers, led by Rep. Joe Courtney, disagree, emphasizing the need for a consistent demand signal for orders and business. They argue that the industrial base is recovering and expanding, with increased hiring and construction rates, and advocate for continuous procurement at a rate of two submarines per year to support the submarine-industrial base's momentum.
The US Navy plans to equip submarines with the Maritime Strike Tomahawk (MST) missile, a new version of the Tomahawk missile, to counter China's growing naval power. The MST has a longer range and a new guidance system to engage mobile targets at sea, such as warships. With this upgrade, US submarines will have a powerful ship-killer missile capable of targeting ships up to 1,000 miles away. As tensions persist between China, its neighbors, and the US, the US Navy aims to deter China's naval expansion and maintain its advantage in maritime security.
A collection of 22 fascinating pictures includes comparisons of a lion's fang to a cat's fang, the size of Antarctica compared to the United States, the inside of a grenade, and various other intriguing images such as a one-ton block of cheese and Napoleon's toothbrush.
China has launched its first nuclear-powered guided missile submarines, according to a Pentagon report, marking the country's entry into a domain previously dominated by the US and Russia. The submarines, known as Type 093B guided missile submarines, will give China the ability to conduct long-range precision strikes against land targets, significantly enhancing its power projection capability. The report suggests that three of these submarines could be operational by next year, as part of China's wider expansion of its submarine fleet, which could number 65 vessels by 2025. The development of these submarines is seen as an important new capability for the Chinese navy, allowing them to carry out saturated land and anti-ship attacks at standoff range.
Former President Donald Trump criticized Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt and special counsel Jack Smith after reports emerged that Pratt alleged Trump shared sensitive information about US nuclear submarines. Trump denied speaking to Pratt about submarines but claimed they discussed job creation. Pratt is one of several potential witnesses in the criminal case against Trump for alleged hoarding of classified documents. A judge had imposed a partial gag order on Trump, which was temporarily lifted as his legal team challenges it in appeals court. Trump is facing a total of 91 criminal counts across various cases, which he vehemently denies.
China is making significant progress in the production of a new generation of nuclear-armed submarines, known as Type 096, which are expected to pose a challenge to the U.S. and its allies in tracking them. These submarines are predicted to be much harder to detect due to breakthroughs in their quietness, aided in part by Russian technology. The development of these advanced submarines is driving increased deployments and contingency planning by the U.S. Navy and other militaries in the Indo-Pacific region. The prospect of a quieter Chinese submarine is also a driving factor behind the AUKUS deal between Australia, Britain, and the U.S. to increase submarine deployments.
The TRIPLE-nanoAUV 2 project aims to develop miniature submarines that can melt their way through ice and explore the subglacial lakes beneath the Antarctic ice shelf, serving as a test for future exploration of icy moons like Europa and Enceladus. The nano-AUVs will be small enough to fit inside an ice-melting probe and will be supported by an underwater docking station for data transmission and battery charging. The project, coordinated by the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences, plans to conduct field tests in Antarctica in 2026. The ultimate goal is to use similar technology to study the oceans beneath the icy surfaces of Jupiter's moon Europa and Saturn's moon Enceladus.
Sweden's world-leading submarine fleet, known for its advanced conventional submarines, will greatly enhance NATO's submarine capabilities in the Baltic Sea. With its regional expertise and experience operating submarines in the Baltic since 1904, Sweden fills a crucial gap in NATO's underwater capabilities. The shallow depth of the Baltic Sea makes it unsuitable for nuclear-powered submarines, giving Sweden an advantage. Additionally, Sweden's submarines can stay submerged for longer periods due to their unique ability to recharge batteries underwater using liquid oxygen. In anticipation of future autonomous underwater warfare, Sweden has ordered two new submarines with a multi-mission portal for remotely operated vehicles, making them ideal for seabed warfare and protecting critical infrastructure.