{"id":48867,"date":"2026-07-07T19:10:20","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T19:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2026\/07\/07\/us-navy-fears-ballistic-missile-subs-can-be-hit-by-drones-anti-tank-rockets\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:10:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:10:34","slug":"us-navy-fears-ballistic-missile-subs-can-be-hit-by-drones-anti-tank-rockets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/naval\/2026\/07\/07\/us-navy-fears-ballistic-missile-subs-can-be-hit-by-drones-anti-tank-rockets\/","title":{"rendered":"US Navy fears ballistic missile subs can be hit by drones, anti-tank rockets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When hidden deep in the vastness of the ocean, America\u2019s ballistic missile subs are practically invulnerable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But berthed in port \u2014 or sailing on the surface while transiting to and from port \u2014 these powerful yet fragile boats can be sitting ducks for drones, mines and even anti-tank rockets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What once seemed the plot of thriller novels has become reality. Ukraine claims it successfully used an underwater drone to damage a Russian submarine<\/a> in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk last year. Guerrillas and terrorists lurking along a waterway could use anti-tank guided missiles or handheld anti-tank rockets to ambush an unwary sub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To face the new threat, the U.S. Navy is looking to develop better methods of protecting its missile subs, as well as the shore installations that support them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These defenses include \u201cprototype technologies to detect, track, identify, deny, and defeat unmanned systems across all domains,\u201d according to a Sources Sought announcement<\/a>. \u201cThis area seeks scalable solutions for shore-based installations and afloat operations in Port, Harbor, Littoral, and Waterways (PHLW) and open ocean environments.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Navy is also searching for ways to escort and protect its missile subs as they transit to and from port. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The goal is to \u201censure the zero-failure secure movement of strategic maritime assets,\u201d the announcement said. \u201cThis area seeks advanced maritime situational awareness, physical security enhancements for escorting SSBNs [nuclear missile subs], and the detection, avoidance, and mitigation of maritime mines, and the defeat of direct-fire kinetic threats (e.g., shore-launched ATGMs\/RPGs) during transit through PHLW to and from dive points.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The threat of anti-tank weapons even extends to the truck convoys hauling ICBMs to sub bases. The Navy is interested in active protection systems<\/a> \u2014 sensors and shotgun-like launchers mounted on armored vehicles to destroy incoming anti-tank rockets \u2014 \u201cfor ground transport and convoy operations of strategic weapons and equipment.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\t