U.S. Navy Deploys USS Arkansas to Boost Stealth and Undersea Readiness

USS Arkansas (SSN 800). HII

On July 2, 2025, the U.S. Navy advanced its undersea warfare capabilities with the launch of the USS Arkansas (SSN 800), a Block IV Virginia-class submarine. Built by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) at Newport News Shipbuilding, the vessel was transferred from its construction facility to a floating dry dock and then towed to a submarine pier for final outfitting and testing. This event marks a continuation of the Navy’s strategic efforts to modernize its fleet and maintain operational readiness amid evolving maritime challenges.

The USS Arkansas is the 27th Virginia-class submarine and the 13th delivered by Newport News Shipbuilding. Ordered in 2014, its keel was laid in November 2022, with pressure hull completion in September 2023 and christening in December 2024. Commissioning is scheduled for 2026. As part of the Block IV variant, the submarine incorporates design changes aimed at reducing lifecycle costs and increasing deployment availability. Specifically, Block IV submarines are engineered to undergo three major maintenance periods over a 33-year service life, enabling 15 deployments instead of the 14 typical of earlier blocks.

The Block IV design retains the dimensions of previous Virginia-class submarines, with a hull length of 377 feet, a beam of 34 feet, and a submerged displacement of approximately 7,800 tons. Propulsion is provided by the S9G nuclear reactor and a pump-jet propulsor, allowing the vessel to operate at depths exceeding 800 feet and speeds over 25 knots while submerged. The reactor is designed to last the entire operational life of the submarine without refueling.

Construction of the USS Arkansas reflects a collaborative approach between HII and General Dynamics Electric Boat, the only U.S. shipyards capable of building nuclear-powered submarines. Under this arrangement, Newport News constructs the bow, sail, stern, torpedo room, and living quarters, while Electric Boat builds the control and engine rooms. Final assembly and delivery alternate between the two shipyards.

Armament includes two Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles, and four 21-inch torpedo tubes for Mk-48 torpedoes and UGM-84 Harpoon missiles. The submarine also supports advanced mobile mines and unmanned undersea vehicles. For special operations, it is equipped with a dry deck shelter and the Advanced SEAL Delivery System.

The combat system is the AN/BYG-1, integrating tactical and payload control systems. Navigation and control are managed via an optical fiber fly-by-wire system. Signature reduction technologies and sensor arrays enhance stealth and situational awareness. These include the Large Aperture Bow sonar, wide-aperture fiber-optic sonar arrays, high-frequency chin and sail-mounted sonars, conformal arrays, and towed arrays such as the TB-16, TB-29, or TB-33. Electronic warfare capabilities are provided by the AN/BLQ-10 system, and photonic masts replace traditional periscopes, offering high-resolution cameras, infrared sensors, and laser rangefinders.

Block IV submarines continue the modular construction practices introduced in earlier blocks, using pre-outfitted modules or “rafts” to improve safety and efficiency. The revised bow design from Block III is retained, featuring two large VPTs instead of twelve smaller vertical launch tubes. While Block IV does not include the Virginia Payload Module (VPM) introduced in Block V, it remains compatible with several upgrades and maintains similar missile capacity in a different configuration.

The Virginia-class program is structured into multiple blocks, with Block IV serving as a transitional platform. Block V will introduce the VPM mid-body section, adding four more payload tubes and increasing total missile capacity to approximately 65 torpedo-sized weapons. Block VI is planned to support special operations forces, and discussions are underway for a potential Block VIII, prompted by delays in the SSN(X) program.

Each Block IV submarine is projected to cost approximately $2.6 billion (2012 prices), with annual operating costs around $50 million. The launch of the USS Arkansas contributes to the Navy’s broader strategy to maintain undersea dominance, particularly as Ohio-class SSGNs approach retirement by 2028. Although Virginia-class submarines carry fewer missiles than SSGNs, they offer enhanced stealth and operational flexibility.

The Navy aims to sustain a two-per-year construction rate for Virginia-class submarines to meet future requirements, including commitments under the AUKUS agreement. Under this trilateral pact, Australia is expected to receive up to five Virginia-class submarines starting in the early 2030s.

The launch of the USS Arkansas occurs amid ongoing industrial challenges, including labor and supply chain constraints. In response, contracts have been awarded to secure long-lead components for future blocks. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to rebuild the submarine manufacturing base, which has diminished significantly over the past three decades.