Forget about Tom Cruise and the latest Top Gun sequel. President Donald Trump’s recent remarks regarding the placement of Ohio-class nuclear submarines might just warrant a reimagining of the Red October storyline. The iconic 1990 film featured Sean Connery as the commander of a Soviet submarine attempting to defect to the U.S. on the nuclear-armed sub, Red October.
The SSBN Ohio-Class Trident Ballistic Missile Submarine, often referred to as a “Boomer,” carries 20 intercontinental missiles equipped with multiple nuclear warheads and can operate underwater for weeks without resurfacing. Generally, the president doesn’t discuss their strategic locations. Yet, last Friday, Trump deviated from this norm, emphasizing the importance of these submarines as a reminder to Russia of their deterrent power. On August 1, he stated, “I have ordered two nuclear submarines to be placed in the right area in case these stupid, inflammatory statements are more than that.”
Trump’s submarine placement is a signal that extends beyond just the situation in Ukraine. With a missile range of around 4,000 miles, these submarines patrol optimal areas where they can reach potential Russian targets. On Sunday, he confirmed that the submarines were indeed “in the area.”
The rationale behind Trump’s actions is to instill fear regarding a nuclear confrontation. These submarines are stealthy—hard to detect. Trump’s comments were ignited by Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, who mentioned the so-called “dead hand” systems that would automatically deploy nuclear weapons even if Russia’s nuclear capabilities were compromised. The Trident submarines are deemed particularly secure because they are hard to target. Russian missiles could reach the U.S. in roughly 30 minutes, yet the Trident System is viewed as a reliable part of U.S. nuclear strategy, remaining hidden beneath the ocean surface. This makes them key in maintaining nuclear deterrence.
These submarines are monumental in size—over 550 feet long, nearly double the length of a soccer field, and displacing over 18,000 tons, making them heavier than a Navy destroyer and comparable in size to World War II aircraft carriers. The Ohio-class submarines each carry 20 Trident II D5 missiles, which are significant on their own, measuring 44 feet in length. The missile configurations include warheads with various yields: options of 100 kilotons, 400 kilotons, and a newer low-yield 5 kiloton variant introduced in 2020, addressing concerns that adversaries like Russia might leverage low-yield nuclear arms for perceived strategic advantages.
They’re still operationally functional. Even without GPS, these submarines utilize seafloor mapping and traditional inertial guidance for navigation. Their design allows them to be elusive, making it nearly impossible for adversaries to target them. Their purpose is to remain undetected beneath the waters, ensuring that a surprise attack won’t disable all of America’s nuclear capabilities. The Ultra Kiett Ohio-Class optimizes the longer-range Trident II D5 missiles, patrolling vast ocean areas.
Meanwhile, China is expanding its nuclear arsenal. This week, despite their “nothing to see here” approach, it’s clear they’re paying close attention to Trump’s every word. The Chinese Navy’s “Great Wall” submarine engaged in Russian naval exercises in the Sea of Japan. Their nuclear stockpile reportedly surpassed 600 warheads last year, with projections of reaching 1,500 by 2035, according to the Pentagon.
Looking back, it’s now been 80 years since B-29 bombers dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Today’s Americans are less familiar with the nuclear landscape. Throughout the Cold War, presidents from Kennedy to Reagan leaned heavily on nuclear-armed submarines as a peacekeeping measure. The end of the Soviet Union in 1991 softened nuclear tensions, but the rise of Putin has reignited those fears, causing suffering for countless individuals in Ukraine.
Fortunately, the structure of the U.S. nuclear triad ensures that Putin knows submarines hold significant strategic weight. New Columbia-class submarines are already in development, highlighting their importance as a priority for the Navy.
These submarines can essentially navigate anywhere without leaving a trace. As Russian forces understand well, they serve as the ultimate deterrent.
