New US Navy Virginia Submarine Enters Service

Mon May 4th, 2026

The US Navy has commissioned its 26th Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine, the USS Idaho (SSN 799), at the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

The platform is the fifth American navy system to be named after the Gem State and the 14th assembled by program partner General Dynamics Electric Boat.

It is also the eighth of 10 Block IV submarine types in the series, which incorporates more advanced onboard capabilities for improved performance and low upkeep.

The induction ceremony in Groton was led by US Senator James Risch from Idaho, with Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao also delivering remarks.

Cmdr. Chad Guillerault, the new submarine’s commanding officer, addressed his crew and highlighted the importance of the vessel’s heritage.

“The Idaho connection is more than a name, it is a legacy — a legacy built before us that is being reborn today,” Guillerault stated.

“I am incredibly proud to be the commissioning captain of a vessel so steeped in tradition … and most importantly, honored to be the captain of a crew so mighty that they have outshone all those before them.”

Virginia Submarine Specifications

The US Navy’s Virginia submarine was conceptualized in the 1990s to expand its sub-surface dominance alongside the military’s older systems, including the Seawolf-class and Los Angeles-class fleets.

Washington partnered with General Dynamics and HII in 2014 to launch the initiative, with plans to construct up to 43 ships under the program.

The Virginia platform is equipped with a 280,000-horsepower nuclear reactor that is backed by a pump-jet propulsion, steam turbines, and a support motor for a top speed of more than 25 knots (46 kilometers/29 miles per hour).

Depending on its Block configuration, the vessel’s length ranges from 115 to 140 meters (377 to 460 feet), with a standard beam of 10 meters (34 feet), enabling a capacity for up to 135 personnel.

It has unlimited range, allowing sustained operations across open water and littoral missions, and can be armed with Harpoon anti-ship missiles, Tomahawk land-attack missiles, and Mark 48 heavyweight torpedoes.