US Navy reclassifies VPM-equipped Virginia Block V/VI as SSGNs

The US Navy will categorize Virginia-class submarines fitted with the Virginia Payload Module (a 70-foot hull insert with four large vertical tubes) as guided-missile submarines (SSGNs), reflecting a major increase in strike magazine depth and payload flexibility. VPM boats can carry substantially more Tomahawks (up to ~40 total) and are intended to support new payloads including IRCPS hypersonic missiles and potentially other vertically-launched munitions. This is a notable capability shift as Ohio-class SSGNs retire, effectively creating a new high-volume undersea strike platform family.