US Navy to retire all Ohio-class submarines carrying 154 BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles by 2028

Ohio-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines are among the most combat-ready and in-demand submarines in service with the US Navy. Despite this, the service will dispose of all submarines within 5 years.

Here's What We Know

The Ohio class is represented by nearly two dozen submarines. Most carry Trident II (D5) ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. Only four submarines are equipped with BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missiles. They are the ones that will be retired.

The Tomahawk carriers are USS Ohio, USS Michigan, USS Florida and USS Georgia. The submarines USS Ohio and USS Florida will be retired in fiscal year (FY) 2026. USS Michigan and USS Georgia will join them in FY2028, although the US Navy originally wanted to retire USS Michigan in FY2027.

The four submarines are known for their ability to carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles. They were originally carriers of Trident II (D5) ballistic missiles, but in the early 2000s the US Navy decided to modify the submarines.

Cruise missile submarines are often used to signal adversaries or potential adversaries during flare-ups of geopolitical friction. The US Navy, for example, recently sent the submarine USS Florida to the Middle East.

Source: The War Zone