The US Navy's next-generation attack Submarine Development Program, called SSN (X), is facing serious risks of delays.
The US Navy has proposed nearly $623 million for SSN (X) research and development in the 2026 draft budget, but the project's progress remains unchanged.
According to the US Congress Research Agency (CRS), this delay could affect the US's ability to maintain its superiority at sea, as well as reduce the ability to carry out military missions in the future.
In fact, the SSN (X) program was scheduled to start in 2031 but was continuously postponed. The US Navy admitted that the program was pushed too far from the end of the Columbia-classclass Submarine Design, creating a large gap, making it difficult for the shipbuilding industry to maintain a stable production pace and maintain a force of engineers and skilled workers.
The SSN (X) is a model of the Submarine expected to change the US's underwater combat capabilities. According to the design, the ship will have higher speed, carry more weapons, better disappearance and be more flexible in combat missions. The ship will also integrate automatic operation technology, combining the superior characteristics of many existing ship layers such as stealth, faster attack and more endurance.
Like current subscribers, the SSN (X) uses nuclear power. The weight when diving can exceed 10,000 tons, significantly larger than the Virginia class (about 7,800 tons). The estimated cost of each model is between $7.1 billion and $8.7 billion.
The continued delay in the project shows that the US military shipbuilding industry is facing many difficulties. The US Government Audit Office has warned that the sector is falling into a state of prolonged overload and instability, affecting the ability to implement long-term defense plans.
