# US Navy submarine fleet to shrink to 46 by 2030

2026-08-08T11:42:26+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The US Navy decommissioned the USS San Juan, the first Improved Los Angeles-class submarine, on Thursday. The attack-submarine fleet is projected to fall from about 50 boats in 2025 to roughly 46-47 by 2030, far below the requirement of 66. Slow Virginia-class deliveries, combined with maintenance needs of ageing boats and extra demands from the Columbia-class and AUKUS, are straining shipyard capacity. The Navy is simultaneously pushing multi-domain capabilities. Future attack submarines will integrate payload launchers for unmanned systems and advanced weapons; Virginia-class Block V boats will carry up to 40 Tomahawk missiles. In India, the Navy operates 16 conventional submarines and three Arihant-class nuclear boats, but modernisation plans like Project-75I remain delayed.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/international/how-us-navy-is-turning-submarines-into-multi-domain-weapons-platforms/articleshow/133050459.cms>
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/defence/international/uss-san-juan-retires-us-navy-needs-66-attack-submarines-but-fleet-could-fall-to-46-47-by-2030/articleshow/133071322.cms>

Tags: AIP, Indian Navy, payload launchers, submarines, US Navy, Virginia class
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