New Design SSN

FY 2027 efforts in Proj 1947 are associated with Virginia Class Block VII studies, trade-space definition, and long-term development beginning in parallel to Block V/VI design efforts. FY 2027 funding provides for the continued execution of Virginia Class Submarine Undersea Dominance Payload Integration (UDPI) (i.e., Advanced Payloads), Advanced Acoustic Sensors, and future blocks concept designs. FY 2027 continues the detailed design of Virginia Class Block VI technical baseline established efforts, preliminary design for Virginia Class Block VII, and initial concept design studies for Block VIII. Funds will be executed at the Virginia Class design yard and numerous sub-vendors and warfare centers designing and developing critical, complex ship components necessary for integrating Block VI capabilities into the baseline class design. This project encompasses all the ship system development efforts for the Virginia Class Submarine and the Technology Insertion Program for reducing costs and upgrading performance of future hulls by virtue of improvements in ship design and systems. Technology development implementation and logistics for developmental items, and Virginia Class test & evaluation are included. The thrust of these efforts will be to develop and apply multiple advanced system technologies which are integrated into the design of the Virginia Class Submarine. Technologies developed in this program will be considered for applicability to the COLUMBIA (CLB) Class Submarine Program for commonality opportunities. New technologies are being transitioned from industry and government research and development programs where doing so offers substantial performance improvement and/or affordability payoffs. Transition opportunities include those from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and Office of Naval Research (ONR) Future Naval Capabilities Program.

This project provides the engineering development required to outfit each ship of the Virginia Class Submarine with a combat system which satisfies ORD requirements in all 7 mission areas, namely; ASW, STRIKE, ISR, Covert Mine Warfare, Battle Group Support, ASUW, and Special Warfare. The fully integrated combat system, otherwise referred to as the Non-Propulsion Electronics System (NPES), is composed of a collection of functional sub-systems, such as sonar, navigation, exterior communications, weapons launch, Large Vertical Array, Submarine Warfare Federated Tactical System (SWFTS) virtualization, Electronic Warfare Next Generation Architecture, etc., which evolve over the life of the program due to either competitive selection of new suppliers, component obsolescence replacement, increased technical performance, or improvements in reliability. Non-recurring engineering activity is needed to perform platform integration of the components, software modification to accommodate electronic data exchange, unique submarine environment qualification and update of all logistics products.

To achieve desired submarine force readiness levels, it is necessary to construct highly sophisticated shore based Combat System Team Trainers capable of training personnel in all aspects of submarine approach, attack and surveillance operations in a controlled, simulated environment. The Combat Control System (CCS) AN/BYG-1 and sonar system AN/BQQ-10 are installed on SSN, SSBN and SSGN class submarines. These tactical systems are planned for future upgrades with the next hardware and software revisions which will provide enhanced War Fighter capabilities. The Tactical Acoustic Rapid COTS (commercial-off-the-shelf) Insertion (ARCI) phased upgrades are also being installed with future revisions. The Advanced Processing Builds (APB) and Technical Insertion (TI) sensors, which feed technology insertion into the CCS/Acoustic development, directly impact the trainers. The Submarine Multi-Mission Team Trainer (SMMTT) supports operator, employment, strike, and Battle Group training for enlisted and officer pipelines. The SMMTT provides operators and combat teams the opportunity to train ashore, prior to, and between deployments. The shore based training provides a means of maintaining team proficiency in stand alone or in combined team mode prior to ship deployment.

This FY 2026 RDT&E Congressional add supports Secure Mobile Initial Outfitting and Portable Underwater Communication Systems (PUCS) for VIRGINIA Class Submarines. Secure Mobile Initial Outfitting provides secure modern mobile devices as well as mobile applications to improve the enhance sailor shipboard effectiveness. This FY 2026 funding will accelerate the initial mobile shipset outfitting of submarines and their sailors to enhance their efficiency. FY 2026 funds will also support the completion of development, test and evaluation and production of PUCS with the goal of providing a system that will increase tactical readiness and communication in tactically significant environments.