# NAVSEA R&D and Prototyping

**R-2A activity** of project 3220 — COLUMBIA Class Submarine Development  
**Program element:** 0603595N — SSBN New Design  
**Component:** U.S. Navy · **Budget Activity:** 4  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603595N/3220/a1  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603595N/3220

## Summary

This activity requests $42.9M in FY2027, 17% of project 3220, down 2.6% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Combat Systems: - Initiate GFE find, fix, and repair activity for the Tech Insertion 2024 NPES upgrade configuration installation on the SSBN 827 Command and Control System Module (CCSM) during the CCSM Off-hull and Assembly Test Site (COATS) segment of construction. - Bench test NPES level suitability performance improvements associated with the TI-24 configuration upgrade and revise Ship Systems Manuals accordingly for casualty modes, security posture transition, and NPES cold start. - Continue generation of TI-28 NPES configuration design change GFI. Component Development: - Continue Government support and oversight for the components expected to be delivered in FY27 for SSBN 827. - Completion of Large Vehicle Shock Testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground. - Continue preparations for initial deep dive testing. - Continued development and testing of ACRU technology. - Continued development of PEPTD technology. Propulsor and Shafting: - Continue to develop and demonstrate alternative production methods for risk reduction of propulsor components. - Continue analysis of data collected during modal testing of as-built propulsor components and assemblies to inform and improve computational models. - Update performance achievability assessments to reflect as-manufactured parts. - Support emergent design requirements during installation of propulsor components at the shipyard. - Continue testing of propulsor bearing first production unit at Full Scale Bearing Test Facility to evaluate performance and generate design feedback. - Continue design development and manufacturing feasibility studies for potential changes for shafting system components to implement on later hulls. Signatures: - Execute VACL full scale test to verify new measurement and modeling approaches to demonstrate CLB CDD performance requirements. New approaches may relax requirements for at-sea test time on future hulls for requirements verification. - Update whole-boat signature predictions using updated component modeling and predictive tools. - Support GFE design efforts for CLB ship system components and demonstration testing

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** Decrease represents the updated program cost estimate from 2024 capturing updates to government component and technology development efforts, an overall shift to SCN, and commencement of follow ship R&D obsolescence and technology refresh starting in 2023.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Combat Systems: - Initiate comprehensive review of the Government Furnished Information (GFI) products and design artifacts traditionally supplied to the shipbuilder to implement an NPES configuration change with the goal of reducing GFI development cycle time and GFI production cost. - Initiate development of the TI-28 NPES configuration design changes GFI. Component Development: - Continue Government support and oversight for the component expected to be delivered in FY26 for SSBN 826. - Continue Government support and oversight for the components expected to be delivered in FY26 for SSBN 827. - Delivery of Out of Autoclave bow dome for SSBN 827. - Completion of Large Vehicle Shock Testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground. - Continue preparations for initial deep dive testing. Propulsor and Shafting: - Continue to develop and demonstrate alternative production methods for risk reduction of propulsor components. Signatures: - Update whole-boat signature predictions using updated component modeling and predictive tools. - Support GFE design efforts for CLB ship system components and demonstration testing. - Prepare VACL full scale test to verify new measurement and modeling approaches to demonstrate CLB CDD performance requirements. New approaches may relax requirements for at-sea test time on future hulls for requirements verification. - Update numerical modeling approaches to assess in-service electric signatures to reduce test time and prioritize maintenance decisions.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 46.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 44.0 |
| FY2027 | Request | 42.9 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Other activities in project 3220

- [Common Missile Compartment Design and Prototyping, and Whole Ship Design](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603595N/3220/a0) — FY2027 179.6
- [Systems Engineering/Program Management](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603595N/3220/a2) — FY2027 18.2
- [Strategic Weapons Systems Integration](https://hitchintel.com/programs/0603595N/3220/a3) — FY2027 15.4

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Navy RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 0603595N project 3220 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*