Key Points and Summary – The U.S. Navy is facing a massive “capability gap” as its four powerful Ohio-class guided-missile submarines (SSGNs) are set to retire by 2028.
-These four vessels carry an incredible 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles each, accounting for 50% of the entire U.S. submarine force’s vertical launch missile capacity.
-While new Block V Virginia-class submarines are being procured to mitigate this loss, they carry far fewer missiles and are not being built quickly enough to fill the void, especially as resources are prioritized for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program.
The Ohio-Class Submarine Crisis Is Just Getting Started
The Ohio-class submarines are the largest and most deadly vessels in the U.S. Submarine Forces. They can be equipped with nuclear ballistic missiles or Tomahawk cruise missiles, depending on the variation. Four boats were reconfigured into SSGNs, which fire cruise missiles instead of ICBMs.
However, these submarines are slated to retire by 2028, leaving the U.S. with a large capability gap. While the Navy has many options to replace these subs, the gap left behind is unlikely to be filled in the near future.
Creating a Gap in Capabilities
The first two boats, the USS Ohio (SSGN-726) and the USS Florida (SSGN-728), are scheduled for retirement in 2026 along with 17 other naval vessels. After that, the USS Michigan (SSGN-728) and USS Georgia (SSGN-729) are scheduled to follow in 2028. The Ohio-class SSGNs have been in service for almost 50 years at this point. While the Ohio-class is one of America’s best subs, the class is slowly but surely starting to show its age.
Unfortunately, the Navy will see a drastic loss in capability by the time these submarines are retired. The Ohio-class SSGNs make up 50% of the U.S. Submarine Force’s vertical-launched cruise missile capacity. Each submarine is equipped with 22 missile tubes, each capable of holding 22 Tomahawk cruise missiles for a total of 154 missiles per sub. This leaves the Navy at a severe deficit with the retirement of these subs, as the Ohio-class SSGNs are necessary for maintaining a posture of deterrence and strength.
The Ohio-Class SSGNs are Unlikely to be Replaced Soon
To mitigate the loss of these submarines, the Navy has initiated the procurement of Block V Virginia-class submarines. These attack subs are equipped with the 84-foot-long “Virginia Payload Module,” which enables them to hold four large-diameter vertical launch tubes.
Each tube holds a total of seven Tomahawk cruise missiles for a grand total of 28 missiles per sub. However, in order to replace the Ohio-class, the Navy would have to procure 22 Block V submarines by 2028 to make up for the total capability loss. Currently, only 12 Block V boats are in service, with an additional nine on the way, not all of which are equipped with the Virginia payload module.
To make matters worse, the Navy is directing all available manpower into the Colombia-class ballistic missile submarines, the replacement for the Ohio-class SSBNs. This effort will likely delay any attempt to plug the hole left by the retiring SSGNs.
Some have floated the idea of procuring SSGNs based on the Colombia-class, similarly to what the Navy did for the Ohio-class; however, it is unclear whether the Navy is interested in such a decision. Unfortunately, this means that the U.S.’ vertical-launched cruise missile capabilities will be severely degraded for the foreseeable future.
SSBNs vs SSGNs: What’s the Difference?
The Ohio-class guided missile submarines (SSGNs) are among the most powerful and versatile assets in the United States Navy. Designed initially as ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) during the Cold War, these vessels were intended to serve as a critical component of America’s nuclear triad, providing a stealthy and survivable second-strike capability.
However, with the changing strategic landscape following the Cold War and the signing of arms reduction treaties, the Navy saw an opportunity to repurpose some of these submarines for conventional warfare and special operations support. This led to the conversion of four Ohio-class SSBNs into guided missile submarines between 2002 and 2008.
The conversion process was extensive and costly, with each submarine undergoing significant structural and technological modifications. The Trident missile launch systems were removed and replaced with vertical launch systems capable of deploying Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (TLAMs).
Each SSGN now carries up to 154 Tomahawk missiles, distributed across 22 launch tubes, making them capable of delivering a massive volume of precision firepower from beneath the waves.
The remaining two missile tubes were converted into lockout chambers to support the deployment of Special Operations Forces (SOF), including Navy SEALs. These chambers, along with the addition of Dry Deck Shelters and Advanced SEAL Delivery Systems, allow the submarines to covertly insert and extract special operations teams in hostile environments.
Why the Navy Needs its SSGNs
Beyond their strike capabilities, the Ohio-class SSGNs are uniquely equipped to serve as forward operating bases for SOF missions. They can accommodate up to 66 special operations personnel and are outfitted with command-and-control facilities, medical support, and storage for equipment.
This makes them ideal for a wide range of missions, including reconnaissance, sabotage, hostage rescue, and counterterrorism.
Their nuclear propulsion systems grant them virtually unlimited range and endurance, allowing them to remain submerged for months at a time. This endurance, combined with their stealth, enables them to operate undetected in contested waters, providing a persistent and covert presence near potential flashpoints.
The strategic value of the Ohio-class SSGNs has been demonstrated in various operational contexts. Their ability to deliver large volumes of conventional firepower from stealthy platforms has made them indispensable in power projection, crisis response, and deterrence.
For example, during the 2011 intervention in Libya, USS Florida launched Tomahawk missiles to disable air defenses and command centers, playing a key role in the initial phase of the campaign.
In other instances, the mere presence of an SSGN in a region has served as a powerful signal of U.S. resolve and capability, particularly in areas like the Western Pacific, the Persian Gulf, and the Mediterranean Sea.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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