The U.S. Navy's Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast-attack submarines are advanced vessels designed for diverse missions, set to replace the older Los Angeles-class submarines. Despite plans for a fleet of 66, budget cuts in the Fiscal Year 2025 request reduced funding to just one submarine, down from two.
The USS New Jersey (BB-62), a World War II Iowa-class battleship, is currently being renovated at the Philadelphia Naval Yard to serve as a museum ship. Concurrently, a modern namesake, the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine New Jersey (SSN-796), has been delivered to the U.S. Navy by Newport News Shipbuilding.
The Navy will request funding for six new warships, down from seven, emphasizing readiness and adaptability to immediate threats, particularly from China. Major programs like the F/A-XX next-generation strike fighter see funding cuts, while investments in current aircraft and a focus on the Virginia-class submarine program reflect a balanced approach to maintaining naval
The Columbia-class forms the sea-based leg of the United States nuclear triad, complemented by land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) as well as long-range strategic bombers.