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The Navy’s next-generation attack submarine won’t be a reality for at least 15 years, according to a new report.
The Navy’s SSN(X) was originally slated to enter production in 2031. That timeline has since slipped – to 2035 and now to 2040, due to escalating costs and budget constraints.
The Navy requested $623 million in its FY 2026 budget to advance the program.
This new class is expected to emphasize stealth, intelligence gathering, larger torpedo payloads and advanced connectivity with unmanned undersea systems.
INSIDE AMERICA’S 6TH-GEN ARSENAL: B-21, F-47, AND THE FUTURE OF AIR DOMINANCE
Only two shipyards in the U.S. can build nuclear-powered submarines like this USS Minnesota, a Virginia-class fast attack submarine. (Colin Murty-Pool/Getty Images)
The report urges lawmakers to consider whether the delay could threaten U.S. undersea dominance and the Navy’s ability to conduct critical missions.
At around 10,000 tons, the SSN(X) is projected to cost between $6.7 billion and $8 billion per vessel, making it significantly more expensive than the Virginia‑class subs it’s intended to replace.
Virginia‑class boats cost approximately $4 billion each and have been in service since 1998. The Navy typically procures two per year, but actual production has slowed to just 1.2–1.4 subs annually, resulting in a growing backlog of funded but unconstructed boats.
NAVY’S CARRIER FLEET FACES TEMPORARY REDUCTION THROUGH 2027 AS NEW SHIPS HIT DEVELOPMENT SNAGS
Virginia‑class boats cost approximately $4 billion each and have been in service since 1998. (Colin Murty-Pool/Getty Images)
For FY 2025, the Navy requested only one Virginia‑class submarine due to production constraints. Only two U.S. shipyards – Electric Boat and Newport News – are equipped to build nuclear-powered submarines.
The report also encourages lawmakers to examine the impact of deferring production on the industrial base and whether…
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