The Arkansas brings improved stealth features and greater firepower than many of its sister submarines—meaning it cannot get out into the water soon enough.
America is in dire need of more submarines to augment its overstretched—and dwindling—nuclear-powered fleet. This is particularly important as conflict looms between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC); in such a conflict, the United States Navy, warts and all, will be the tip of the proverbial spear.
But the Americans are doing their best, despite the bureaucratic inertia of the Pentagon’s ailing acquisitions process and the other inefficiencies found within the byzantine defense industrial bureaucracy, to adapt to the rapidly changing environment. This is where the development of the Virginia-class Block IV submarines comes in. The USS Arkansas (SSN-800) represents the final stage of refinements for the Block IVs that focus on reducing lifecycle costs and rendering maintenance of these complex systems more efficient and effective. Block IV submarines feature design changes that extend deployment cycles and minimize mid-life overhauls, allowing for more operational time at sea.
Why the Virginia-Class Submarines Are So Important
In general, the development of the USS Arkansas is rooted in the broader Virginia-class program, which emerged in the post-Cold War era as a cost-effective alternative to the more expensive Seawolf-class submarines.
Initiated in the mid-1990s through a partnership between General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), the Virginia-class was designed to address evolving threats—including anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) environments posed by near-peer rivals like China and Russia. These subs incorporate advanced technologies, such as fly-by-wire ship control systems, modular construction for easier upgrades, and enhanced acoustic stealth through anechoic coatings and quiet propulsion.
With a displacement of around 7,800 tons, as well as the ability to dive 800 feet, Virginia-class subs like the USS Arkansas are equipped for intelligence-gathering, special operations support, strike warfare, and anti-submarine missions.
All About the USS Arkansas
And like the other Virginia-class subs, the USS Arkansas packs a punch. Its armament includes 12 vertical launch tubes for Tomahawk cruise missiles and four 21-inch torpedo tubes for Mk48 torpedoes or Harpoon anti-ship missiles. An S9G nuclear reactor provides virtually unlimited range for this submarine, too—limited only by supplies and crew endurance.
The contract for SSN-800 was awarded on April 28, 2014, as part of a multi-boat procurement to streamline production and control expenses. Construction began at the Newport News Shipyards (NNS) in Newport News, Virginia, with the keel laying ceremony on November 19, 2022—a symbolic milestone where the first module is authenticated.
The construction process moved surprisingly quickly from there, and the pressure hull was completed September 27, 2023, ensuring the submarine’s structural integrity. This phase involved welding massive steel sections and integrating complex systems like the reactor compartment and command center.
Arkansas was christened by Carlotta Walls LaNier, a civil rights icon and member of the “Little Rock Nine,” on December 7, 2024. The christening, attended by Navy officials and shipbuilders, underscored the vessel’s ties to its namesake state. Following the outfitting in a construction facility, the Arkansas was launched into the James River at NNS on July 2 of this year. At that time, shipbuilders transferred the 377-foot hull from a dry dock using tugboats, a process that positions the submarine for final pier-side installations—including electronics, weapons systems, and habitability features.
Can the Arkansas Change the Balance of Power in the Pacific?
The July 2 launch, announced by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), confirms the submarine’s transition from assembly to testing phases. HII and the Navy have claimed that the system enhances the US Navy’s undersea dominance.
In fact, as noted above, the submarine’s construction is merely a desperate attempt to stop the strategic bleeding after years of the Navy hemorrhaging key capabilities. The Arkansas brings improved stealth features and greater firepower than many of its sister submarines—meaning it cannot get out into the water soon enough, considering all the challenges the US military is facing today.
Based on timelines for similar Virginia-class submarines, such as the USS New Jersey (SSN-796), which took around 18 months from launch to delivery, the Arkansas is projected for delivery to the Navy in late 2026 or early 2027. Once commissioned, she will undergo sea trials, crew training, and certification processes. Readiness for deployment—meaning full operational capability for missions like forward presence or strike operations—typically follows within six to 12 months after commissioning, likely by mid-2028.
With tensions on the rise, the USS Arkansas cannot get to sea in fighting form soon enough. The world she will enter may very well look far more like the contested eras of the world wars and less like what we’ve all become accustomed to since at least the end of the Cold War.
In other words, Virginia-class submarines such as the USS Arkansas (SSN-800) are more likely to be called upon to engage in peer conflict than any generation of submarines in decades.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
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