SSN(X)

Abstract

The U.S. Navy must protect the security of the American people by defending against great powers, regional adversaries, and transnational threats. Strategic Competition is increasing the demand on the U.S. Navy submarine force. Submarines will be the principal method to deterring strategic competition aggression and will be the first to fight. The U.S. Navy must meet the rising challenge by delivering a new attack submarine. SSN(X) will be designed to counter the growing threat posed by near peer adversary competition for undersea supremacy. It will provide greater speed, increased horizontal payload capacity, improved acoustic superiority and non-acoustic signatures, and higher operational availability. SSN(X) will conduct full spectrum undersea warfare and be able to coordinate with a larger contingent of off-hull vehicles, sensors, and friendly forces. It will retain and improve multi-mission (Anti-submarine warfare (ASW), Anti-surface warfare (ASuW), Strike, Special Operating Forces (SOF), Mine, Subsea Seabed Warfare (SSW), Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)) capability and sustained combat presence in denied waters. SSN(X) will operate independently or integrated within a Task Force. The primary goal of the SSN(X) program element will be to evaluate a broad range of submarine designs, technologies, sensors, and combat system components required to produce an affordable platform which supports these mission requirements. SSN(X) will continue to define requirement options and refine cost estimates to support a mid 2030s authorization. FY 2022 focused on drafting the Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) and initiating studies for the Analysis of Alternatives (AoA). Funds were also used in early efforts in engineering support and ship design management. As the SSN(X) program continues to ramp up, FY 2023 efforts focused on expanding trade studies and technology assessments; acquisition documentation development and support; engineering support efforts; ship design management efforts; and preliminary technology development informed by the ICD. Additionally, SSN(X) focused on whole ship concepts, payload systems, non-propulsion Hull, Mechanical, and Electrical (HM&E) systems, Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I), and hull and structures to better understand the best way to meet the warfighter priorities of increased horizontal payload capacity, increased speed, increased acoustic superiority and non-acoustic signatures, and increased operational availability. SSN(X) will utilize digital engineering and industry and supply chain information to meet capability priorities while designing in availability and ensuring affordability. SSN(X) is using a mission engineering approach to ensure that mission utility drives the planned design, development, prototyping and testing. Building upon the FY 2023 focus areas, FY 2024 expands the efforts in the areas of trade studies, design engineering, prototyping and technology assessments and initial development. SSN(X) will also increase focus on propulsor and shafting, advanced material development, prototyping, improved stealth and payload capacity, infrastructure evaluation and readiness, and industrial base evaluation and planning. The AoA will be initiated in FY 2024. SSN(X) will incorporate best practices and lessons learned from the Virginia Class and Columbia Class submarines.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2024
Source ID
0604850N_5_1319_PB_2024
Change Summary Explanation
FY23 Adjustments: -$6M decrease unjustified management growth -$4M decrease unjustified support growth -$177K decrease FFRDC Reduction FY24: -$12.7M increase of funds to support mid-2030's lead ship authorization -$3.9M net increase rate adjustments
Service Agency Name
Navy

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acoustic Signatures
  • Acquisition
  • Advanced Materials
  • Attack Submarines
  • Cost Analysis
  • Cost Estimates
  • Digital Engineering
  • Engineering
  • Model Based Systems Engineering
  • Navy
  • Program Management
  • Ship Design
  • Submarine Warfare
  • Submarines
  • Systems Engineering
  • Undersea Warfare
  • Virginia Class

Readers

  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control

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