Summary: The U.S. Navy has postponed the construction of its next-generation attack submarine, the SSN(X), to the early 2040s due to budgetary constraints and the prioritization of ongoing projects.

The SSN(X) design will accompany the Virginia-class to fill this threshold. First conceptualized during the Cold War, the Virginia submarines remain the backbone of the Navy’s underwater fleet.

In the designation SSN(X), the “X” means that the exact design of the boat has not yet been determined. The Navy’s FY2024 budget submission envisaged procuring the first SSN(X) in FY2035.

Known as the U.S. Navy’s SSN(X) program, it was first publicly discussed in 2014. The project has since advanced and has reportedly been at the centre of discussions regarding military spending ...

has secured a cost-plus-fixed fee Small Business Innovation Research Phase III contract from the U.S. Navy to support the service’s next-generation attack submarine program SSN(X) Combat Systems ...