American nuclear attack submarine in Scotland

A Virginia class nuclear submarine of the U.S. Navy has arrived in Scotland.

The U.S. Navy has previously said that port visits like this to Faslane “reinforces the United States’ commitment to our Allies and partners in the region and gives crew the opportunity to enjoy the history and culture of the region”.

The U.S. and UK regularly work alongside each other through exercises and operations in support of Allied and partner interests.

“Fast-attack submarines are multi-mission platforms enabling five of the six Navy maritime strategy core capabilities – sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence. They are designed to excel in anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship warfare, strike warfare, special operations, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, irregular warfare and mine warfare. Fast-attack submarines project power ashore with special operations forces and Tomahawk cruise missiles in the prevention or preparation of regional crises.”

The Virginia class is a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines built for the U.S. Navy. Designed for both open-ocean and littoral operations, these submarines carry cruise missiles and specialise in anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and intelligence gathering. They are replacing the ageing Los Angeles-class submarines and the Ohio-class cruise missile variants.

Following the 2025 decommissioning of USS Helena (SSN-725), the Virginia class became the world’s most numerous active submarine class.

Construction of the Virginia class began in 2000, and production will continue through 2043. The submarines are expected to serve until at least 2060, with later models likely remaining active into the 2070s. Built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding, the class represents a key element of the U.S. Navy’s long-term undersea warfare strategy, combining endurance, stealth, and versatility.

In 2023, the AUKUS defence partnership between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States announced that the Royal Australian Navy would acquire three Virginia-class submarines. This purchase will bridge the gap between Australia’s retiring Collins-class submarines and the future SSN-AUKUS class.

Each Virginia-class submarine displaces between 7,900 and 10,200 tons depending on the block variant and measures up to 460 feet in length. They are powered by an S9G nuclear reactor that provides effectively unlimited range, with endurance limited only by food and maintenance needs. Their armament includes up to 40 vertically launched cruise missiles and four 21-inch torpedo tubes capable of firing Mk-48 torpedoes or Harpoon missiles, reflecting the class’s role as both a precision strike and anti-submarine platform.