U.S. submarines routinely operate across the High North to improve maritime domain awareness. The Navy said those deployments support regional security and stability.
Fast-attack submarines are designed to perform a broad range of missions within a single platform. They support five of the Navy’s six core maritime capabilities: sea control, power projection, forward presence, maritime security and deterrence.
Mission sets include anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, strike operations, special operations, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The submarines can also support irregular warfare and unmanned systems.
Virginia-class submarines can project power ashore by deploying special operations forces and launching Tomahawk cruise missiles. Those capabilities are intended to help prevent regional crises or provide a response when they occur.
USS Delaware operates within the area of responsibility of the U.S. Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy. The fleet conducts joint and naval operations with allied and interagency partners across Europe and Africa.
