Navy's next-generation submarine program faces alarming delay to 2040

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.