122 VLS Missile Cells Gone: The U.S. Navy Is Retiring Its Most Powerful Surface Warship With No Replacement Ready During the Iran War

122 VLS Missile Cells Gone: The U.S. Navy Is Retiring Its Most Powerful Surface Warship With No Replacement Ready During the Iran War

The retirement of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers represents a structural transformation for the U.S. Navy in 2026. While these 1980s-era vessels are aging and costly to maintain, their departure leaves a distinct "firepower gap" that the current Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are struggling to fill during the high-tempo operations of Operation Epic Fury. The post 122 VLS Missile Cells Gone: The U.S. Navy Is Retiring Its Most Power…