The USS Connecticut, a Seawolf-class nuclear submarine, will return to service in late 2026 after undergoing extensive repairs at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The submarine sustained significant damage in a 2021 collision with an underwater seamount. Repairs are taking longer than initially anticipated, partly due to the unique challenges of maintaining the rare Seawolf class and shipyard capacity issues. The delay leaves the US Navy with only one operational Seawolf-class submarine for a period of time, highlighting concerns about naval shipbuilding capacity compared to China.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.