Latest news with #Ohio-class
Newsweek
3 days ago
- General
- Newsweek
Nuclear-Armed US Submarine Surfaces Near Europe
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States submarine armed with nuclear ballistic missiles recently operated in the North Atlantic Ocean near Portugal's Azores islands, the Navy confirmed to Newsweek. The presence of USS Maryland, an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, coincided with the deployment of an E-6B Mercury aircraft—capable of communicating with nuclear-armed submarines. The Navy also confirmed to Newsweek the aircraft's presence in the region. Why It Matters While ballistic missile submarines are tasked with deterrent patrols and launching missiles if necessary, it has not been uncommon for the Navy to publicize their movements in recent years—including participating in exercises with other units and preparing for deployments. What To Know The U.S. Navy operates a fleet of 14 Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines, each capable of carrying up to 20 submarine-launched ballistic missiles armed with multiple nuclear warheads. The fleet is split between two home ports on the East and West Coasts. CNN Portugal reported that a U.S. nuclear submarine arrived at the port of Praia da Vitória, on the island of Terceira in the Azores, on Sunday afternoon. The report, which described the visit as "extremely rare," identified the submarine as the Pacific-based USS Michigan. Praia da Vitória is in the North Atlantic Ocean, about 944 miles west of mainland Portugal. Commander Tim Gorman, U.S. Sixth Fleet spokesperson, told Newsweek that the submarine in question was the Maryland, not the Michigan. The Maryland—homeported in Kings Bay, Georgia—"operated in the vicinity of the Azores and conducted a brief stop for personnel." It remains unclear whether the Maryland was conducting a patrol at the time. It and its sister ships normally spend 77 days underway at sea with either the Blue or Gold crew. This two-crew system maximizes the submarine's "strategic availability," according to the Navy. This was not the first time the Navy simultaneously deployed a ballistic missile submarine and an E-6B aircraft in the Sixth Fleet's area of responsibility—a vast region that covers half the Atlantic Ocean and all of Europe—according to a map shown on the fleet's website. Just over a year ago, on June 23, one of the Maryland's sister ships, USS Tennessee, was transiting on the surface in the Norwegian Sea while an E-6B aircraft flew overhead. "It's certainly true that where Ohio [ballistic missile submarines] go, in general, an E-6B is usually not that far away," the specialist outlet The War Zone commented at the time. The United States Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS "Maryland" returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, on May 26, 2022. The United States Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS "Maryland" returns to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Georgia, on May 26, 2022. Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Aaron Xavier Saldana/U.S. Navy Meanwhile, the Michigan, homeported in Bangor, Washington, is one of four Ohio-class guided-missile submarines. Originally armed with nuclear ballistic missiles, it was later converted to carry up to 154 cruise missiles, used for conventional land-attack missions. Last December, the Navy awarded the crew of the Michigan for "extremely meritorious service" between October 2022 and January 2024, after completing three "missions vital to national security" that significantly enhanced warfighting readiness in the Western Pacific. What People Are Saying Commander Tim Gorman, U.S. Sixth Fleet spokesperson, told Newsweek: "These evolutions enhance the [ballistic missile submarine] force's resupply capabilities, strengthen cooperation between the United States and European Allies, and demonstrate U.S. capability, readiness, flexibility, and continuing commitment as part of NATO." A U.S. Navy spokesperson told Newsweek: "The U.S. Navy can confirm that an E-6B Mercury aircraft did operate over the North Atlantic Ocean. We operate aircraft and vessels wherever international law allows and coordinate closely with allies and partners to address shared security concerns." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether the U.S. military will disclose additional activities of its nuclear forces to demonstrate its deterrent capabilities, as other major nuclear-armed states—including Russia and China—continue to modernize and expand their arsenals.
Business Insider
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Strikes on Iran showed the need for stealthy submarines that can launch a whole lot of missiles. The US Navy is about to lose that.
A US Navy guided-missile submarine was involved in recent strikes on Iran's nuclear program. Ohio-class cruise-missile subs host massive firepower and are difficult to detect. But they're going to be decommissioned in coming years. A US Navy guided-missile submarine launched dozens of missiles into Iran as part of the larger US attack on the country's nuclear program, the vessel's Tomahawk cruise missiles doing significant damage. President Donald Trump singled out US submarines and the fleet's guided-missile submarines after the strikes, praising them as "far and away the strongest and best equipment we have" and "the most powerful and lethal weapons ever built." But despite the latest demonstration of their power, the days of the US fleet's biggest missile shooters are numbered. No other US warship carries even close to as many cruise missiles as its four aging Ohio-class cruise missile subs, raising questions about coming capabilities and filling that gap. Strikes on Iran The US military launched a massive strike on Iran's nuclear program, targeting facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on Saturday. While much of the focus for the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes has been on the B-2 Spirit bombers and the huge bombs they dropped, another key part of the operation involved a Navy guided-missile submarine firing from an undisclosed location in the Middle East. In comments about the operation, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine didn't specify which submarine was involved, and the Navy and the Office of the Secretary of Defense declined to discuss it due to operational security concerns. The term "guided-missile submarine," which Caine used, refers to the Navy's Ohio-class SSGNs, and the large number of missiles launched during the operation also points to an Ohio-class boat. Ohio-class submarines, built by General Dynamics' Electric Boat division, were originally a force of 18 nuclear-powered ballistic missile vessels first commissioned in 1981 with a sole mission of the highest stakes: carrying missiles with nuclear warheads. In the 2000s, the Navy converted four of them into cruise-missile submarines, ending their role in the nuclear forces and turning them into the US fleet's most stealthy and numerous missile shooters. Although they're now 40 years old, these capable submarines are some of the quietest in the world, Bryan Clark, a retired Navy submarine officer and defense expert at the Hudson Institute, told Business Insider. "This is in large part because of their size, which allows for substantial dampening and sound silencing equipment," he said, "as well as their aggressive maintenance program. Each SSGN carries 154 Tomahawk missiles and can carry about two dozen special operators." SSGN is an abbreviation for "subsurface guided nuclear," with SS standing for submarine, G for guided missile, and N for nuclear propulsion. Those four subs can launch more than half of the missiles the Navy's submarine fleet is able to fire from vertical launch systems, according to the service. Even the newest attack subs carry only a small fraction of an SSGN's missile arsenal, and surface warships must carry a mix of missiles in their vertical launchers to defend against aerial threats. This past weekend's attack on Iran included 75 precision-guided weapons in total, including GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetration bunker-buster bombs dropped by US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. Trump, in the Monday Truth Social post that praised subs, said one SSGN had launched 30 Tomahawk missiles in total during the attack. Reduced firepower The Navy plans to decommission two of its Ohio-class SSGNs in 2026 and the other two in 2028, replacing them with Virginia-class Block V submarines. These won't be dedicated cruise missile submarines, but they will boast greater firepower than earlier Virginias. Military leaders and experts have expressed concerns about the replacement plan and the loss of missile capacity. "The US will experience a big drop in its capacity for stealthy missile attacks," Clark said. The Block V Virginia-class attack submarines will each be able to carry up to 40 Tomahawk missiles, far less than the Ohio SSGNs, a concern as the US attempts to turn its focus to higher-end threats and potential conflicts. This means Navy officials will have to deploy four or more Virginia-class attack subs to fire as many long-range missiles, reducing the number of attack subs for other missions they are specially built for: surveillance and ship-killing. Additionally, the Ohio-class SSGNs have two crews of about 150 sailors that rotate the sub back and forth, allowing it to maximize its deployed time. Over two decades of operations, these subs have earned reputations as workhorses. Another problem is that the Block V submarines are facing years-long delays and rising costs due to persistent US Navy shipbuilding problems that could leave a capability gap. A Navy review last year estimated the delay to contract delivery for Virginia Block Vs at approximately 24 months. Other top-priority programs, like the Constellation-class frigate, Virginia Block IV submarines, and Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, are also behind schedule. The Trump administration has made fixing the shipbuilding problems contributing to these delays a top priority, standing up an office in the White House dedicated to shipbuilding. Recent congressional hearings have examined a number of problems, some dating back decades to the end of the Cold War. Issues like competitive pay for shipbuilders, workforce and labor problems, and training and shipbuilding capacity woes have repeatedly caused programs to run behind, With the Virginia-class Block Vs delayed, retiring the Ohio-class submarines could limit the stealthy cruise-missile strike capabilities of the Navy's submarine force. "Unless the Navy delays the Ohio retirements, the Navy's submarine-launched missile capacity will not return to today's levels until the mid-2030s," Clark said, when the Virginia Block Vs are expected to be completed. And even when the Block Vs are delivered, they won't bring the same firepower.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Forget B-2 bombers — the US just used a top-secret combat platform to strike Iran, and no one saw it coming
While the US Air Force 's B-2 stealth bombers made headlines as they were used in the bombing of Iran's nuclear facilities, another secretive combat platform was also used to launch the strikes, as per a report. US Submarine Launched Missiles From an Undisclosed Location The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine revealed that even a US Navy guided-missile submarine was used to launch over two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles from an undisclosed location in the Middle East at Iranian targets, reported Business Insider. However, he did not mention what type of submarine was used in the US' Operation Midnight Hammer mission, as per the report. According to Business Insider, the guided-missile submarine is usually referred to the Navy's Ohio-class SSGNs. It can carry over 150 BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, subsonic jet-powered munitions that can be launched from the sea to strike targets more than 1,000 miles away, according to the report. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Many Are Watching Tariffs - Few Are Watching What Nvidia Just Launched Seeking Alpha Read Now Undo ALSO READ: Missouri's Whiteman base from where B-2 bombers flew 37-hours emerges as silent hero behind US strikes on Iran The Navy's Ohio-class submarines , which are built by General Dynamics Electric Boat, are undersea assets that can evade detection because of the streamlined hulls and quiet propulsion systems, as per a Business Insider report. Live Events However, it cannot be known for sure as the US military does not usually reveal details of its secretive missile submarines, except when it is trying to send a message to adversaries and signal deterrence, reported Business Insider. A Hidden Strike Revealed While Caine pointed out that the operation did not just use B-2s and the lone submarine, the attack also involved dozens of fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers and also said that the US forces used 75 precision-guided weapons against Iranian targets, according to the report. FAQs Where did the submarine fire the missiles from? An undisclosed location in the Middle East and the exact position remain classified. Why keep the submarine's identity a secret? The US rarely discloses submarine details unless it wants to send a clear signal to its adversaries, as per the report.
Business Insider
22-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The US military struck Iran with some of its most elusive weapons: stealth bombers and a hidden submarine
The US military relied on two of its most elusive and secretive combat platforms to carry out strikes on Iran's top nuclear facilities, a top general revealed Sunday. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Sunday that seven US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 14 heavy bunker-buster bombs on the facilities as part of a secret, highly complex operation the previous night. The flying-wing B-2, built by US aerospace company Northrop Grumman, features a unique low-observable stealth design that gives it the ability to penetrate enemy airspace heavily defended by surface-to-air missiles without being spotted. Caine told reporters that a US Navy guided-missile submarine also launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles from an undisclosed location in the Middle East at Iranian targets. Caine didn't specify what type of submarine was involved in the mission against Iran. The Pentagon declined to disclose the name of the submarine that participated in the operation, and the Navy referred Business Insider to the White House, which did not immediately respond. Guided-missile submarine generally refers to the Navy's Ohio-class SSGNs, which can carry more than 150 BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, subsonic jet-powered munitions that can be launched from the sea to strike targets over 1,000 miles away. General Dynamics Electric Boat builds the Navy's Ohio-class submarines. These stealthy undersea assets are made with streamlined hulls and quiet propulsion systems, among other technologies, for evading detection. The Ohios, however, are not the only US subs capable of launching Tomahawk missiles. The US military does not typically disclose details of its secretive missile subs, except when it is trying to send a message to adversaries and signal deterrence. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the US had bombed the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities in what he said was a "spectacular military success" that "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's key enrichment facilities. Beyond the B-2s and the lone submarine, Caine said the operation, called Midnight Hammer, also involved dozens of fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers. He said US forces used 75 precision-guided weapons against Iranian targets. The B-2s dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs — specifically, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory in partnership with Boeing. The big 15-ton weapon is the US military's largest non-nuclear bomb and is regarded as the bomb best suited for hitting Iran's more protected nuclear facilities. The B-2 is the only operational aircraft that can carry the heavy MOP, though the new B-21 Raider will be able to as well. The Spirit can carry two of these munitions. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the strikes "devastated the Iranian nuclear program." The operation comes as Israeli forces have pounded Iran with relentless strikes over the past 10 days, with fighter jets targeting the country's nuclear program and military capabilities, including air defenses and missile launchers. Tehran has retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. Trump, over the past few days, had been weighing whether to join Israel in its bombing campaign. His administration has been tied up in efforts to reach a new nuclear deal with Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has preferred a military approach. He later praised Trump for the US strikes. The US involvement is an escalation in the conflict that could see Iran retaliate against US forces in the Middle East. The Pentagon has a large presence across the region, including warships, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and ground troops that it says is intended to protect US interests. The president and Pentagon leadership is urging Iran to pursue peace and threatening continued attacks if they do not. It remains to be seen how Iran responds.
Business Insider
22-06-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
The US military struck Iran with some of its most elusive weapons — stealth bombers and a hidden submarine
The US military relied on two of its most elusive and secretive combat platforms to carry out strikes on Iran's top nuclear facilities, a top general revealed Sunday. Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Sunday that seven US Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers dropped 14 heavy bunker-buster bombs on the facilities as part of a secret, highly complex operation the previous night. The flying-wing B-2, built by US aerospace company Northrop Grumman, features a unique low-observable stealth design that gives it the ability to penetrate enemy airspace heavily defended by surface-to-air missiles without being spotted. Caine told reporters that a US Navy guided-missile submarine also launched more than two dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles from an undisclosed location in the Middle East at Iranian targets. Caine didn't specify what type of submarine was involved in the mission against Iran. The Pentagon declined to disclose the name of the submarine that participated in the operation, and the Navy referred Business Insider to the White House, which did not immediately respond. Guided-missile submarine generally refers to the Navy's Ohio-class SSGNs, which can carry more than 150 BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, subsonic jet-powered munitions that can be launched from the sea to strike targets over 1,000 miles away. General Dynamics Electric Boat builds the Navy's Ohio-class submarines. These stealthy undersea assets are made with streamlined hulls and quiet propulsion systems, among other technologies, for evading detection. The Ohios, however, are not the only US subs capable of launching Tomahawk missiles. The US military does not typically disclose details of its secretive missile subs, except when it is trying to send a message to adversaries and signal deterrence. President Donald Trump announced Saturday that the US had bombed the Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan nuclear facilities in what he said was a "spectacular military success" that "completely and totally obliterated" Iran's key enrichment facilities. Beyond the B-2s and the lone submarine, Caine said the operation, called Midnight Hammer, also involved dozens of fighter jets and aerial refueling tankers. He said US forces used 75 precision-guided weapons against Iranian targets. The B-2s dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs — specifically, the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, or MOP, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory in partnership with Boeing. The big 15-ton weapon is the US military's largest non-nuclear bomb and is regarded as the bomb best suited for hitting Iran's more protected nuclear facilities. The B-2 is the only operational aircraft that can carry the heavy MOP, though the new B-21 Raider will be able to as well. The Spirit can carry two of these munitions. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the strikes "devastated the Iranian nuclear program." The operation comes as Israeli forces have pounded Iran with relentless strikes over the past 10 days, with fighter jets targeting the country's nuclear program and military capabilities, including air defenses and missile launchers. Tehran has retaliated by launching hundreds of missiles and drones at Israel. Trump, over the past few days, had been weighing whether to join Israel in its bombing campaign. His administration has been tied up in efforts to reach a new nuclear deal with Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has preferred a military approach. He later praised Trump for the US strikes. The US involvement is an escalation in the conflict that could see Iran retaliate against US forces in the Middle East. The Pentagon has a large presence across the region, including warships, aircraft carriers, fighter jets, and ground troops that it says is intended to protect US interests. The president and Pentagon leadership is urging Iran to pursue peace and threatening continued attacks if they do not. It remains to be seen how Iran responds.
