Visualizing SSN(X)

摘要

It's hard to believe the Navy is already thinking about a follow-on to the Virginia-class attack submarine, a vessel that still seems relatively brand new. But for a sea service that designs multi-billion-dollar platforms, officials must think decades down the road. The Navy is already starting to work on concepts for the SSN(X) platform that will be the Virginia-class successor (although not its replacement, since Virginia-class subs have service lives stretching beyond 30 years -the Navy will continue acquiring the current subs into the 2040s, and the last will remain in service until as late as 2070).