On August 12, Forward Defense Assistant Director Abigail Rudolph and Non-Resident Senior Fellow Joshua VerGow were published in RealClearDefense, discussing the US Navy’s decision to reclassify 19 Virginia-class submarines. In this article, Rudolph and Vergow argue that the reclassification of these submarines exemplifies the Navy’s broader embrace of Distributed Maritime Operations and suggests that meaningful military innovation can arise from reconfiguring existing platforms for new missions.
Explore the program
Forward Defense leads the Atlantic Council’s US and global defense programming, developing actionable recommendations for the United States and its allies and partners to compete, innovate, and navigate the rapidly evolving character of warfare. Through its work on US defense policy and force design, the military applications of advanced technology, space security, strategic deterrence, and defense industrial revitalization, it informs the strategies, policies, and capabilities that the United States will need to deter, and, if necessary, prevail in major-power conflict.
