WASHINGTON – The U.S. Navy’s next-generation attack submarines will be larger than the existing fleet of Virginia-class attack submarines, a plan that could enable greater weapons payloads, longer service life and a host of not-yet-seen quieting technologies. Kris Osborn at The National Interest reports. Continue reading original article
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
16 Dec. 2021 -- The Navy has begun work on a new generation of attack submarines with never-before-seen weapons, quieting technology, undersea attack drones, sonar, and communications networking ... to emerge in the 2030s.
The as-of-yet unnamed class of attack submarine, now referred to as SSN(X), will have a large diameter to accommodate equipment for Special Operations Forces on secret high-risk attack missions, ISR missions, networking with other vessels, and operating undetected in high-threat waters.
Key areas of modernization focus involve new coating materials to improve stealth; new antennas for long-range accurate undersea surveillance missions; and new quiet propulsion technology.
Related: DARPA eyes bistatic sonar with UUV-based pingers to preserve submarine stealth
Related: New era dawns in ASW as manned and unmanned submarines team for bistatic sonar
John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics
