US Navy to get New SSW (Subsea and Seabed Warfare) Submarine

The Navy has contracted with Electric Boat to build a new SSW boat based on a Virginia Class hull. Although details are closely guarded a few key aspects of the design have emerged. Notably several of the vertical VPMs (Virginia Payload Modules) will be refitted with new mission support systems; to accommodate this the keel will be extended beneath them. Additional speculation focuses on remote operation vehicles (ROVs), uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) and other special operations submersibles. The new boat will join (eventually replace) the mission of the USS Jimmy Carter SSN 23. Anticipated cost is $ 5.1 Billion, more than a Billion dollars over that of a standard Virginia Class.