US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro confirmed earlier this week that future Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine SSN 811 will be named USS Miami after the city of Miami, Florida.
SSN 811 will be the fourth US Navy vessel and the second submarine to be named after the city.
As with its Virginia-class boats, the future Miami is designed to seek and destroy enemy submarines and surface ships, project power ashore with Tomahawk cruise missiles and special operation forces, carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, support battle group operations, and engage in mine warfare.
The Virginia-class submarines were conceived as a less expensive alternative to the Seawolf-class boats, which were designed during the Cold War era, and are replacing older Los Angeles-class submarines. The new submarines can also operate at speeds of more than 25 knots for months at a time.
The future Miami will be built by General Dynamics Electric Boat.
