U.S. Navy Seeks AI for SSN(X) Submarine Design as American Shipyards Struggle to Build Its Fleet.

The U.S. Navy is exploring the use of artificial intelligence to support the development of its future SSN(X) nuclear-powered attack submarine, seeking new solutions to organize onboard systems while reducing engineering risks. The initiative comes as Washington prepares the successor to its Virginia-class submarines, a program intended to preserve American underwater superiority despite growing financial and industrial constraints.

The Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarine USS New Jersey (SSN 796) conducts sea trials in 2024. (Picture source: HII)

The effort focuses on the internal architecture of the future submarine rather than the integration of artificial intelligence into its combat systems. By examining how major equipment and compartments can fit within a balanced hull, the Navy hopes to identify new design approaches before committing to construction. However, the precise technologies involved and their expected performance have not yet been defined.

According to a Naval Sea Systems Command notice published on October 30, 2026, the SSN(X) Program Office, designated PMS 351, is inviting companies to express their interest by November 6. A formal solicitation could follow shortly afterward under an Other Transaction Authority arrangement, allowing participation from technology firms outside the traditional defense industrial base. The notice refers to artificial intelligence as "Super Intelligence", terminology recently adopted in official U.S. government communications.

Related News: U.S. Navy Seeks American Shipyards to Build Next-Generation SSN(X) Nuclear Attack Submarines

Artificial Intelligence Could Help Solve Complex Submarine Design Challenges

The proposed work concerns the SSN(X) System Arrangement Concept Design, which determines how the submarine's major components are distributed within the vessel. This includes the nuclear propulsion plant, weapons compartments, sensors, crew accommodation, and supporting machinery. Their positioning directly influences the hull's dimensions, weight distribution, and the integration of equipment required for sustained underwater operations.

One particular challenge involves maintaining hydrostatic balance. A submarine must carefully balance its weight against buoyancy while controlling its center of gravity and longitudinal trim. Even relatively small changes in the placement of heavy machinery can require modifications elsewhere in the vessel, making internal arrangements a demanding part of naval engineering.

The Navy is therefore seeking competing industry concepts capable of advancing these arrangements while reducing the technical risks associated with integrating them into a hydrostatically balanced whole-ship design. However, the announcement does not specify whether the proposed technology will automatically generate configurations, compare alternative layouts or perform particular engineering calculations. Potential improvements in development speed, costs or design efficiency remain objectives to be demonstrated rather than confirmed results.

The SSN(X) itself is expected to incorporate several capabilities associated with existing American nuclear submarines. The Navy aims to combine the speed and weapons capacity of the Seawolf class, the acoustic discretion and sensor performance of the Virginia class, and the operational availability of the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. Preliminary estimates indicate a submerged displacement of approximately 10,100 tons, compared with around 7,800 tons for the original Virginia-class design.

U.S. Submarine Ambitions Face Growing Shipbuilding Constraints

These characteristics are intended to support operations in contested maritime environments, where hostile submarines, underwater surveillance networks, and increasingly sophisticated detection systems threaten naval freedom of maneuver. The future SSN(X) is expected to conduct anti-submarine warfare, engage surface vessels, collect intelligence, and support long-range strikes. Its larger payload capacity and potential integration with unmanned underwater vehicles could also extend operational flexibility, although its final weapons configuration remains undetermined.

The program nevertheless faces an industrial environment already struggling to deliver existing submarine orders. According to a January 2026 Congressional Research Service report, American shipyards have produced approximately 1.1 to 1.2 Virginia-class submarines annually since 2022, below the Navy's objective of two vessels per year. Workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions, and manufacturing difficulties have contributed to a growing backlog of submarines already funded but not yet completed.

The situation extends beyond attack submarines. General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding must simultaneously support Virginia-class production and construction of the Columbia-class strategic nuclear submarine fleet. An April 2026 Government Accountability Office assessment identified delivery delays of 34 to 47 months for several Virginia-class submarines and approximately 18 months for the lead Columbia-class vessel. These difficulties illustrate the pressure facing the American shipbuilding industry as it prepares for another generation of complex nuclear-powered warships.

Financial constraints add another challenge. The Navy previously postponed procurement of the first SSN(X) from fiscal year 2035 to 2040. The Congressional Budget Office estimated in January 2025 that each submarine could cost approximately $8.7 billion in fiscal 2024 dollars, compared with the Navy's estimate of $7.1 billion. Artificial intelligence could eventually help address certain engineering challenges during development, but the current initiative does not establish that it will reduce construction costs or resolve existing production bottlenecks.

The future SSN(X) also carries wider implications for maritime competition between the United States, China and Russia. China's expanding naval capabilities and Russia's continued investment in nuclear-powered submarines are placing greater importance on underwater surveillance, sea denial and strategic deterrence. Washington must maintain a capable attack submarine fleet while meeting its commitments under the AUKUS partnership, including planned submarine transfers to Australia. The proposed use of artificial intelligence reflects an attempt to explore new engineering methods, but maintaining American underwater superiority will depend equally on industrial capacity, sustainable procurement, and the ability to deliver future submarines without repeating the delays affecting today's fleet.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests include security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.

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