The U.S. is building a new generation SSN(X) nuclear attack submarine. It is planned that the design of the new submarine will take into account the shortcomings of its predecessors, as well as the growing competition from the Russian and Chinese fleets, Asia Times writes.
The United States is designing a next-generation nuclear-powered attack submarine, the SSN(X). The program is designed to solve the maintenance problems of the current US submarine fleet and refocus the submarine fleet to compete with China and Russia, Asia Times writes.
The designation "SSN(X)" implies that the military has not yet decided on the exact design. However, the US Navy has estimated that each such submarine will cost $5.8 billion, much more than the Virginia class, which costs $3.6 billion to build, the paper notes.
At a recent topical conference, Rear Admiral Jonathan Rucker stated that the Pentagon has 50 nuclear submarines in service at the moment. However, 18 of them cannot be put into operation because they are under repair.
According to Rucker, the number of submarines undergoing maintenance is "too high. In addition, there are frequent problems with the availability of sufficient spare parts and materials for repairs.
Rear Admiral Scott Brown, who spoke at the same conference, said the U.S. Navy had not invested sufficiently in repair and maintenance capabilities when it designed and purchased the Virginia submarine. As a result, needed components are often unavailable - so other submarines have to be dismantled for parts to maintain combat strength.
Rucker stressed that such shortcomings must be taken into account in the development of the SSN(X). He also stated that the focus of the new submarine design is on four basic requirements: speed, stealth, payload, and maintainability.
Rucker and Brown's statements echo a Congressional Research Service report that highlighted the industrial base and maintenance problems plaguing the U.S. submarine fleet. The report also questions whether the U.S. will be able to produce three submarines annually starting in the mid-2020s: two Virginia and one Columbia armed with ballistic missiles.
The congressional report also points to other problems with the Virginia submarine. Some components of the boats are wearing out earlier than their 33-year design life expectancy suggests. Therefore, some of the equipment has to be removed from other submarines. In addition, there are complaints about substandard steel, hull plating problems and defective parts.
Virginia's technical shortcomings, coupled with growing great power rivalry, have probably "caused a shift in American submarine design philosophy." The U.S. is now focusing on fighting flooding and underwater targets, the Asia Times notes.
According to the newspaper, Russian and Chinese submarines are posing a confident challenge to U.S. "underwater dominance" in the Pacific and the Arctic. Also, by operating near American shores, they pose "a serious threat to American territory.
There is at least one more reason to develop SSN(X) besides simplifying logistics and maintaining the size of the fleet. It is very likely that the U.S. Navy's submarine fleet has reached the limit of low visibility with a purely mechanical system.
A few years ago, experts said China's SSNs of the Shang type could be as quiet as their U.S. counterparts, the upgraded Los Angeles submarines. Analysts also drew attention to the significant development of Russian submarines, including the Yasen project, the publication reminds.
The U.S. considers these factors and expects the SSN(X) to become a "super-predator. Therefore, the project must combine the high speed and payloads of Seawolf-type submarines, the low-visibility of the Virginia, and the affordability and durability of the Columbia, Asia Times concludes.
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