US’ next 10,000-ton submarine’s payload module built, can carry more weapons for long-range strike

An American shipbuilder has showcased the first completed payload module for a new submarine. General Dynamics Electric Boat showcased Virginia Payload Module (VPM), which will be installed on the future USS Arizona submarine. “PCU Arizona’s (SSGN 803) Section 2B/5 recently made its way from Quonset Point to Groton — marking the largest Virginia-class shipment ever transported,” said General Dynamics Electric Boat in a social media post. “At 184 feet and featuring the first ever Virginia Payload Module (VPM), this delivery is a major milestone in Arizona’s construction. Arizona, the first submarine to incorporate VPM, will be about 460 feet long once complete.” Virginia Payload Module is an additional section The Virginia Payload Module is an additional section incorporated into selected Virginia-class submarines to increase their ability to carry and launch weapons. Its distinctive enlarged structure gives the Block V boats a substantially greater weapons capacity than earlier Virginia-class variants. The VPM is particularly significant because it allows the Navy to retain and expand long-range strike capabilities aboard nuclear-powered attack submarines. Rather than relying solely on the submarine’s traditional torpedo-room and vertical-launch arrangements, the additional module provides dedicated space for a larger number of weapons.The first completed VPM shown by General Dynamics Electric Boat is destined for USS Arizona, one of the Block V Virginia-class submarines. Evolution of the Virginia-class design The Block V submarines represent an important evolution of the Virginia-class design. The introduction of the VPM adds considerable length to the submarine compared with earlier versions and provides additional internal volume for weapons. The change is more than simply a modification to the submarine’s hull. It reflects the U.S. Navy’s broader effort to increase the amount of long-range strike capability available from its undersea fleet. Because submarines can operate covertly for extended periods, additional missile capacity can give commanders greater flexibility while keeping the launch platform difficult to detect. The first VPM photographed is associated with the future USS Arizona (SSGN-803). The appearance of the completed module indicates that the VPM has progressed from a design and production program into a tangible component of an actual Block V submarine. The significance of the VPM goes beyond the construction of a single submarine. It demonstrates how the U.S. Navy is adapting its existing submarine architecture to accommodate substantially greater weapons loads. For a nuclear-powered attack submarine, the ability to combine stealth, endurance and increased weapons capacity is particularly valuable. The submarine can remain submerged and operate at considerable distances from its home port while carrying a larger strike arsenal.