US Navy to extend service life of Ohio-class submarines armed with Trident intercontinental ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads

The US Navy intends to invest in extending the life of some Ohio-class nuclear submarines. The funds will be invested from FY2025.

Here's What We Know

These are nuclear-powered submarines equipped with Trident II intercontinental ballistic missiles. Each missile can carry several nuclear warheads. The maximum launch range is over 12,000 km. One submarine carries up to 20 missiles.

The US Navy wants to have at least 10 Ohio-class submarines in service to conduct operations at any given time. The fleet currently consists of 14 nuclear-powered submarines:

• USS Henry M. Jackson (SSBN-730);
• USS Alabama (SSBN-731);
• USS Alaska (SSBN-732);
• USS Nevada (SSBN-733);
• USS Tennessee (SSBN-734);
• USS Pennsylvania (SSBN-735);
• USS West Virginia (SSBN-736);
• USS Kentucky (SSBN-737);
• USS Maryland (SSBN-738);
• USS Nebraska (SSBN-739);
• USS Rhode Island (SSBN-740);
• USS Maine (SSBN-741);
• USS Wyoming (SSBN-742);
• USS Louisiana (SSBN-743).

In the 2030s, the US Navy will start taking on Columbia-class submarines and the Ohio submarines will be retired. For insurance purposes, the service wants to extend the life of some Ohio subs by several years.

Last year, officials said a final decision would be taken in FY2026 and work would begin in FY2029. However, this month, US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said funds would be budgeted for FY2025.

Source: Defence News