The US Navy has confirmed that a future Block V Virginia class submarine will be configured for seabed warfare, allowing it to conduct espionage missions on the seafloor. This unique submarine will be capable of highly specialized intelligence and sabotage missions.
The submarine will be one of 12 Block V Virginia class boats, with the first, USS Oklahoma, also lacking a Virginia Payload Module (VPM). The Navy has declined to name the specific Block V submarine that will be configured for seabed warfare.
The seabed warfare variant is designed to interact with the seafloor, with capabilities similar to the USS Jimmy Carter, a modified Seawolf class submarine. The new submarine will supplement or eventually replace Jimmy Carter, which is expected to be 29 years old when the last Block V boat arrives.
