The Virginia class, or the SSN-774 class, is the newest class of nuclear-powered cruise missile fast attack submarines in service with the United States Navy. The class is designed for a broad spectrum of open-ocean and littoral missions, including anti-submarine warfare and intelligence gathering operations. [ 15 ]

Apr 10, 2023 · The module is 84 feet long — bringing the total length of the Virginia-class subs up from 377 feet to 461 feet, the Navy file said — and can store and launch “payloads with diameters larger than the 21-inch diameter of a torpedo or Tomahawk missile,” a December Congressional Research Service report on Virginia-class sub procurement said.

Electric Boat and HII-NNS are currently building Block IV and Block V boats. Block V Virginia-class submarines will incorporate the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) beginning with the second ship of the block, PCU Arizona (SSN 803).

The Virginia Payload Module (VPM) represents the next major design change to the Virginia Class starting with Block V. The VPM is a new 84 foot section inserted into the existing submarine design that contains an additional four (4) large diameter payload tubes, similar to the bow payload tubes added in Block III.

U.S. will lose 60 percent of its undersea strike capacity. Adding VPM to 20 planned future Virginia-class submarines will mitigate this drop in capacity, improve payload distribution across the force, and complicate adversary planning—all at a much lower cost than building replacement SSGNs.

Jul 15, 2021 · The latest Block V Virginia Class submarine will greatly increase the number of missiles which can be carried. In effect this will make it a cruise missile submarine (SSGN). Yet it will not take away from this otherwise flexible anti-ship, anti …

6 days ago · The Navy has been procuring Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. ... equipped with the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) have a current estimated procurement cost of ...

Jul 7, 2017 · The VPM is a hull module which will be spliced into future Virginia-class nuclear attack submarines, adding extra payload space which can be used for missiles as well as other large-diameter cargo.

Oct 27, 2016 · The VPM is an additional mid-body section being integrated into the U.S. Navy’s Virginia-class submarines, beginning with the second boat of Block V. It contains four large-diameter payload tubes, each capable of storing and launching up …

Dec 2, 2019 · The Naval Sea Systems Command awarded a nine-ship -- eight with Virginia Payload Module (VPM) -- Block V contract to General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) Dec. 2. The contract includes an...