Arlington, Virginia — The U.S. Navy is developing the next-generation SSN(X) nuclear-powered attack submarine with a clean-sheet design focused on higher speed, greater weapons capacity, advanced stealth and underwater drone operations. The new submarine is intended to succeed the Virginia-class as the Navy's future attack submarine.
Rear Adm. Andrew Miller, director of the Navy’s Undersea Warfare Division, outlined the preliminary requirements at the Naval Submarine League's annual conference on November 12, 2026. The Navy completed its analysis of alternatives in November 2025, and the Pentagon approved the requirements in March 2026. The service is targeting Milestone A approval by the end of 2026 to begin early development.
Higher Speed and Underwater Drone Operations
The SSN(X) is expected to combine the high speed and weapons capacity of the Seawolf class, the acoustic stealth of the Virginia class and the operational availability of the Columbia class.
A major requirement is the ability to launch, control and recover uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) without using torpedo tubes. Dedicated drone-handling equipment is expected to require a hull diameter of approximately 13 metres, compared with roughly 10 metres for Virginia-class submarines. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates a submerged displacement of more than 10,000 metric tons.
The Navy also wants improved tactical control speed, greater lethality, layered survivability and the ability to operate robotic and autonomous systems. The submarine is expected to be easier to maintain and operate, with better working conditions for crews and shipbuilders.
China Drives Undersea Modernization
The program comes amid growing competition with China. Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet's submarine force, warned at the same conference that America's undersea advantage "is real, but is not guaranteed."
He highlighted China's seabed mapping activities in the western Pacific and development of nuclear-powered attack submarines as key concerns.
Construction Expected in Early 2040s
The Navy's latest fleet plan targets the early 2040s for the start of SSN(X) construction. Until then, Virginia-class submarines, including Block V and Block VI variants equipped with additional capabilities such as the Virginia Payload Module, will remain the backbone of the U.S. attack submarine fleet.
General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding are expected to play important roles in the program.
The SSN(X) remains in its early design phase. Its final dimensions, weapons configuration, drone types and propulsion details have not been publicly finalized. The Congressional Budget Office estimates an average cost of approximately $8.7 billion to $9 billion per submarine. The construction schedule will also depend on the capacity of the U.S. nuclear submarine industrial base.
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