Retirement Drama: The U.S. Navy plans to retire its four Ohio-class SSGN submarines by 2028, removing a critical multi-mission asset. Originally designed as SSBNs for nuclear deterrence, these submarines were converted in the 1990s to carry 154 Tomahawk missiles and deploy special forces.

-With Block V Virginia-class submarines years away from replacing this firepower, the Navy faces a gap in flexible, stealthy strike and special operations capabilities.

-As global tensions rise, these SSGNs, which provide a unique blend of firepower, special forces support, and command capabilities, represent invaluable assets.

-The Navy should consider maintaining some of these subs to ensure operational readiness.

Given rising global tensions, the Navy should reconsider retiring these invaluable assets to maintain strategic and operational flexibility.

The U.S. military hammered out its strategic nuclear deterrence doctrine by the 1970s. Deterrence would be accomplished by the nuclear triad, which would meld the forces of land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles with the U.S. Air Force’s strategic bombers and the........

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