The U.S. Navy has redeployed the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789) from Connecticut to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. It’s the second East Coast-to-Pacific submarine shift in a month, part of a broader effort by the U.S. military to position its most lethal platforms for a potential conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific.
The move places Indiana under Submarine Squadron 7, joining two other Virginia-class submarines and four Los Angeles-class boats already stationed there. This squadron is one of two based at Pearl Harbor. Of the 71 submarines in the U.S. Navy’s fleet, more than two dozen — roughly half of the Navy’s active submarines — are now stationed at U.S. bases in the Pacific.
Strategic deterrence against a rising threat
The redeployment comes amid heightened maritime aggression by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN), particularly in the contested waters of the South China Sea and the western Pacific. Most recently, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) shadowed three Chinese vessels — two PLAN warships and a China Coast Guard ship — illegally operating within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone off Cabra Island on July 12.
Radio warnings from the Philippine vessel BRP Teresa Magbanua were ignored, while one of the Chinese warships conducted helicopter landing exercises nearby. PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said the Chinese patrols were “unauthorized” and called on Beijing to halt its provocative maneuvers in the region.
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Virginia-class submarines are multi-mission workhorses
The USS Indiana, commissioned in 2018, is equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and Mk-48 torpedoes. Compared to the older Los Angeles-class, Virginia-class subs offer enhanced stealth, intelligence-gathering capabilities and versatility across multiple mission types — including anti-submarine warfare, land strikes and covert special operations support.
“The crew and I are grateful for the hospitality and warm Aloha we received, both upon entering the Pacific Ocean and arrival here in Pearl Harbor,” said Cmdr. Kyle Johnson, Indiana’s commanding officer. “We look forward to working with Submarine Squadron 7 and our Pearl Harbor partners to prepare Indiana — the ‘Battle Bass’ — for any tasking, at any time, in defense of our nation.”
Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, commander of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, welcomed Indiana’s crew: “Over the past 10 months, Indiana’s crew has expertly navigated the challenges of an operational deployment and a homeport shift. Their ability to succeed is a testament to their cohesiveness and resilience.”
Joint exercises underscore regional unity
The U.S. isn’t acting alone to deter China. At Talisman Sabre 2025, a major joint training event with Australian forces, the U.S. Army tested its new Typhon missile system — a ground-based launcher capable of firing the SM-6 interceptor missile. The Typhon’s integration demonstrated a new level of long-range precision fire capability from land.
The Japan Self-Defense Forces also conducted live tests of its Type-88 anti-ship missiles this summer. It marked the first time the system was fired on Japanese territory. And in Taiwan, the latest iteration of the Han Kuang military exercises featured a U.S.-made HIMARS rocket launcher, a significant first for the island’s defense planning.
Deterrence or collision course?
Washington’s stated objective remains deterring China without engaging in direct combat. But as the U.S. and its allies strengthen their positions and Beijing continues to challenge territorial boundaries, questions are growing over how long diplomacy alone can hold.
As Rear Adm. Cavanaugh put it, the Indiana’s arrival in the Pacific is about “maintaining a secure and prosperous, free, and open Indo-Pacific.”
But as tensions continue to rise, Roosevelt’s old axiom, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” may only work if China is still willing to listen. And if it believes its own “stick” is bigger, conflict could become more than just a distant possibility.
