The Lafayette class of submarine was an evolutionary development from the of fleet ballistic missile submarine, slightly larger and generally improved. This class, together with the , Ethan Allen, , and classes, comprised the "41 for Freedom."

The first eight submarines initially deployed with the Polaris A-2

UGM-27 Polaris

The Polaris missile was a two-stage solid-fuel nuclear-armed submarine-launched ballistic missile built during the Cold War by Lockheed Corporation of California for the United States Navy....

 missile, later being refitted with the longer ranged Polaris A-3, with having the A-3 missile from the start. In the mid-1970s they were upgraded to carry the Poseidon C3 missile

UGM-73 Poseidon

The Poseidon missile was the second US Navy ballistic missile system, powered by a two-stage solid fuel rocket. It succeeded the Polaris missile beginning in 1972, bringing major advances in warheads and accuracy...

.

Unlike the similar James Madison and Benjamin Franklin classes, none of the Lafayette class submarines were refitted with Trident

UGM-96 Trident I

The UGM-96 Trident I, or Trident C4 was an American Submarine-launched ballistic missile, built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Sunnyvale, California. First deployed in 1979, the Trident I replaced the Poseidon missile. It was retired in the Early 21st Century, having been replaced by the...

missiles. They were decommissioned between 1986 and 1992, with one (Daniel Webster) remaining in use as a Moored Training Ship.