Providence is the first Los Angeles class submarine to be equipped with the Tomahawk missile Vertical Launch System (VLS). While others used test boxes and programs, Providence was the first submarine to launch a Tomahawk cruise missile from the VLS system using its combat system CCS MK1 and associated software C4.1. The submarine is currently active and assigned to Submarine Development Squadron 12 at US Naval Submarine Base New London, Groton, Connecticut.