A US nuclear submarine armed with cruise missiles has been spotted off the southern coast of Spain.
Surveillance teams detected the USS Georgia (SSGN-729) sailing in waters near the Strait of Gibraltar on Tuesday, just 12 miles from the Rock, it has emerged.
The vessel – a nuclear-powered submarine capable of carrying Tomahawk cruise missiles – was reportedly heading towards Gibraltar, where it was due to carry out a crew rotation.
It was accompanied by a British Royal Navy patrol boat at the time of the sighting, reports Europa Sur.
The USS Georgia is part of the US’s global nuclear deterrence network and belongs to the Ohio-class fleet, a group of submarines designed for long-range strategic operations.
Its presence in southern Spanish waters comes as Washington continues to concentrate naval assets in the eastern Mediterranean and Indian Ocean amid its ongoing confrontation with Iran.
Originally launched in 1982, the submarine measures around 109 metres in length with a beam of 12.8 metres and is powered by a nuclear reactor, allowing it to remain submerged for extended periods.
It is equipped with MK-48 torpedoes and can carry up to 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, making it one of the most heavily armed submarines in the US Navy.
The vessel can reach speeds of up to 25 knots, or roughly 46km/hr.
The deployment comes amid heightened military activity linked to the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran, with significant portions of the US fleet now positioned across key waterways surrounding the region.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
