Aiming at the nuclear threat from China and Russia, the United States spends 20 billion to develop submarine-launched nuclear bombs that will be equipped with Virginia-class weapons

The picture shows the U.S. Navy loading and unloading Tomahawk cruise missiles. (DVIDS)

[Reporter Wu Zheyu/Comprehensive Report] Faced with the continued expansion of nuclear weapons capabilities by Russia and China, the U.S. Navy is accelerating the restoration of the ability of submarines to carry nuclear-armed cruise missiles. The U.S. Navy's Strategic Systems Programs Office (SSP) announced on the 6th that it has awarded five prototype research and development agreements with a total value of US$744 million (approximately NT$23.75 billion) to promote the "Nuclear Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile" (SLCM-N) project, which will be integrated into Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines in the future, providing the U.S. military with a sea-based nuclear strike option that is different from strategic ballistic missiles.

The military news website "Army Recognition" reported that these five agreements were awarded on September 23. Three teams including Leidos' Dynetics, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman compete to develop missiles and flight integration systems. The Northrop Grumman Mission Systems Department and Pacific Engineering Company are responsible for launcher-related research and development. The prototype work is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

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SLCM-N will be integrated into the Virginia-class submarine's "Virginia Payload Launch Tube" (VPT). This large launch tube with a diameter of 2.21 meters can originally carry multiple "Tomahawk" cruise missiles. Block III and Block IV are equipped with two large launch tubes, and Block V has an additional four launch tubes, increasing the maximum carrying capacity of the "Tomahawk" to 40, but the actual number of SLCM-N carried has not yet been determined.

The new missile is expected to use the W80-5 nuclear warhead, continuing the sea-based nuclear deterrence mission of the past nuclear weapon "Tomahawk". The US military's original TLAM-N nuclear-armed cruise missile was withdrawn from actual deployment in 1992 and officially retired in 2013. SLCM-N is a newly developed independent weapon that must meet the requirements of new submarine fire control systems and nuclear weapons safety certification.

Compared with the "Trident II D5" ballistic missile carried by the Ohio-class strategic submarine, the SLCM-N will be launched underwater and then fly in the atmosphere, and can approach the target through a preset route. However, its range, speed, nuclear explosion yield and final configuration have not yet been announced, and whether it can break through the Russian and Chinese air defense networks remains to be verified.

SLCM-N faced cancellation in 2022, but the U.S. Congress continued to increase budget support. According to the latest plan, the plan is to enter the system development stage in September 2028, decide on low-speed mass production in September 2031, and decide on full mass production in June 2034. However, Congress requires the U.S. military to complete limited deployment by September 2032, even earlier than the scheduled operational test in October 2033.

It is worth noting that although SLCM-N can provide attack submarines with additional nuclear strike capabilities, it will also occupy the space originally equipped with traditional Tomahawk missiles and increase the burden of nuclear weapons loading, maintenance and certification. Analysis pointed out that this weapon is mainly to supplement the US military's regional nuclear deterrence options rather than replace strategic nuclear submarines, and during a crisis it may increase the risk of opponents misjudging whether US missile launches involve nuclear weapons.