USS Missouri (SSN-780)

The USS Missouri (SSN-780) is a Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine of the United States Navy. She is the seventh ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri.

SSN-780 is a Block III variant of the Virginia class, featuring a redesigned bow section replacing twelve individual Vertical Launch System (VLS) tubes with two large diameter Virginia Payload Tubes (VPTs), each capable of launching six Tomahawk cruise missiles. This modification reduces construction costs and increases payload flexibility.

The contract to build the USS Missouri was awarded to General Dynamics Electric Boat division in Groton, Connecticut, on August 14, 2003. Her keel was laid down on September 27, 2007. She was christened on December 5, 2009, sponsored by Cindy Hensley McCain, the wife of Senator John McCain. The USS Missouri was commissioned on July 31, 2010, in Groton, Connecticut.

Like other Virginia-class submarines, USS Missouri is designed for a wide range of missions, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, strike warfare, special operations support, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. She is equipped with advanced sonar, navigation, and communication systems, making her a highly capable and versatile platform.