40 Tomahawks on One Submarine — Block V Virginia-Class

The Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines represent a pinnacle of undersea warfare technology, combining decades of innovation into a highly advanced and adaptable platform. These submarines are designed for stealth, endurance, and versatility, featuring near-silent propulsion systems, anechoic coatings, and isolated machinery to minimize noise and avoid detection. Powered by nuclear reactors that last the vessel’s entire service life, they carry about 130 crew members and can undertake a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, intelligence gathering, land attacks, special operations support, and deployment of unmanned underwater vehicles. A significant advancement in the class is the Block V variant, which incorporates the Virginia Payload Module (VPM)—an 84-foot hull extension housing four large missile tubes capable of launching up to 28 additional Tomahawk cruise missiles. This enhancement effectively transforms the submarine into a near-arsenal platform, compensating for the retirement of Ohio-class guided-missile submarines and reinforcing U.S. and allied naval