A US Ohio-class nuclear-powered submarine with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 2,500 kilometres has arrived in the Middle East

The US Air Force has sent a nuclear-powered submarine without Trident II (D5) intercontinental ballistic missiles to the Middle East. A submarine carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles has arrived in the region.

Here's What We Know

The US has been unusually frequent over the past two years in revealing the location of its Ohio-class submarines. The submarine arrived in the area of responsibility of the Central Command of the U.S. Armed Forces. Initially, the type of vessel was not reported. Later it became known that it was a nuclear submarine with cruise missiles.

The US Navy has only four SSGNs in service: USS Ohio (SSGN 726), USS Michigan (SSGN 727), USS Florida (SSGN 728) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729). Each is armed with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The maximum launch range is approximately 2,500 kilometres.

The US Department of Defence wanted to decommission the submarines at the beginning of the 21st century. However, the Pentagon decided to arm them with Tomahawk instead of Trident II (D5) intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The first use of the SSGN dates back to 2011. As part of Operation Odyssey Dawn, the nuclear-powered submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) launched more than 90 Tomahawk cruise missiles against military installations in Libya.

Source: Air & Space Forces Magazine