Breaking News: US Navy funds first Block VI Virginia-class submarines with hypersonic strike capability.

The U.S. Navy’s Fiscal Year 2026 shipbuilding plan includes the procurement of six new battle force ships, among which are two Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines. These submarines, expected to be designated USS Potomac (SSN-814) and USS Norfolk (SSN-815), mark the beginning of the Block VI production series and signal the Navy’s intention to sustain undersea superiority through the end of the 2030s. With these two additions, the Virginia-class program will reach at least 44 boats under contract, and integrates new technologies that extend their mission reach, including hypersonic missile capabilities. The budget request for these submarines reflects both strategic intent and industrial coordination, as the Navy prepares for increased threats in the Indo-Pacific and North Atlantic regions.
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To meet its long-term goal of producing two Virginia-class and one Columbia-class submarine per year by FY2028, the US Navy will also invest $130 million in the Submarine Industrial Base to fund construction spares and reduce schedule risks. (Picture source: US Navy)

The FY2026 President’s Budget allocates $11.078 billion for the procurement of the two Virginia-class submarines, split between $3.943 billion in discretionary appropriations and $7.134 billion in mandatory funding. Each submarine is funded under a different financial mechanism, with one vessel receiving discretionary funds and the other covered under mandatory appropriations. Although the hull numbers are not officially assigned in the budget, SSN-814 and SSN-815 are the logical candidates following the April 2025 award of SSN-813, which is named USS Atlanta. These two submarines will follow the Block V configuration, including the Virginia Payload Module and Acoustic Superiority enhancements. They are projected to be awarded in December 2025, with construction spans of approximately 108 months for SSN-814 and 113 months for SSN-815. Delivery of these submarines is expected in the mid-2030s, in line with the production timelines observed across Block V boats, which currently range between 98 and 151 months from contract award to fleet introduction.

The cost structure for the FY2026 Virginia-class procurement includes $3.465 billion in direct shipbuilding expenses. These are further broken down into $1.681 billion for basic construction, $598 million for electronics and sonar systems, $1.035 billion for propulsion equipment, and $150 million for hull, mechanical, and electrical systems. In addition to the new FY2026 funds, the two submarines have received $1.15 billion in advance procurement funding from FY2024 and $903.6 million from FY2025, covering long-lead materials such as reactor components, sonar domes, and specialized steel structures. These early investments help reduce delays by ensuring industrial readiness and supporting production stability ahead of final contract awards. Both SSN-814 and SSN-815 will be included in the fifth Multi-Year Procurement contract, spanning FY2025 to FY2029, continuing the Navy’s practice of using block buy contracts to control costs, smooth out supplier workloads, and maintain the expected delivery cadence.

To meet its long-term goal of producing two Virginia-class and one Columbia-class submarine per year by FY2028, the Navy is investing significantly in the Submarine Industrial Base. The FY2026 budget includes $130 million specifically for workforce development, construction spares, and infrastructure support, all aimed at de-risking the shipbuilding schedule. General Dynamics Electric Boat and Huntington Ingalls Industries' Newport News Shipbuilding, the two contractors responsible for Virginia-class construction, divide responsibilities for modular sections and alternate final assembly. The Navy’s Integrated Enterprise Plan helps balance workloads between the two shipyards and manages supply chain dependencies for both submarine classes. Current production spans for Block V boats such as SSN-803 and SSN-810 have been affected by labor shortages, electronics delays, and supplier base attrition. These challenges underscore the importance of early procurement funding and industrial investment to sustain a high-tempo submarine construction program through the mid-2030s.

The USS Potomac (SSN-814) and USS Norfolk (SSN-815) will be the 41st and 42nd submarines in the Virginia-class program and are classified as the first two Block VI boats. Each vessel will measure 460 feet in length, with a beam of 34 feet and a draft of 32 feet, and displace 10,200 tons submerged. Propelled by an S9G nuclear reactor and equipped with a pump-jet propulsor, these submarines can reach speeds above 25 knots and remain submerged for more than three months. Their armament includes four 21-inch torpedo tubes and 40 vertical launch system cells, with twelve tubes in the bow and twenty-eight in the Virginia Payload Module. Potomac and Norfolk were both named prior to their formal contract award due to unique circumstances involving cost negotiations between the Navy and Huntington Ingalls. Norfolk is the fourth U.S. Navy vessel to carry that name, while Potomac is the seventh to honor the river running through Washington, D.C. These submarines represent a formal transition into the Block VI configuration, which includes evolving technologies beyond the baseline Block V.

One of the most important features of Block VI is its continued integration of the Virginia Payload Module, an 84-foot mid-body section containing four vertical tubes capable of launching seven Tomahawk missiles each. This configuration maintains a total of 40 strike weapons per submarine, a capacity that is critical as the Navy retires its four Ohio-class guided missile submarines. In addition to Tomahawks, Block VI will be the first Virginia-class series specifically configured to support the Conventional Prompt Strike program, which involves hypersonic missiles capable of precision land attacks at intercontinental range. These weapons are intended to provide a non-nuclear strategic deterrent and offer the ability to neutralize time-sensitive targets from standoff distances. Rear Admiral David Goggins has confirmed that Block VI boats will incorporate this capability, positioning them as future high-speed strike platforms within the Navy’s evolving global posture.

Block VI will also introduce organic seabed warfare capabilities and new methods for unmanned underwater vehicle operations. The design includes enhanced sonar systems for close-in navigation and mapping, refined towed array configurations for improved detection of seabed installations, and deployment systems for underwater sensors or effectors. For the first time, Virginia-class submarines will be able to support clandestine operations focused on undersea cables, mines, or enemy infrastructure. Launch-and-recovery mechanisms for unmanned systems will also be improved, enabling Block VI boats to operate platforms like Raytheon’s Barracuda drone, which is capable of mine identification and clearance. These features reflect a doctrinal shift in U.S. naval planning that treats the seabed not just as navigable terrain but as a contested domain requiring active presence, situational awareness, and sustained control during conflict.

Stealth and communication advancements form the third critical area of innovation in Block VI. While retaining pump-jet propulsion and previously introduced acoustic dampening, these submarines are expected to include refined hull coatings and machinery isolation systems that reduce detectability during deep ocean operations and seabed proximity. Internally, systems will be arranged to allow quieter operation even during high-maneuverability scenarios. A particularly transformative upgrade is the integration of undersea fiber-optic networking systems, which allow the submarine to maintain high-bandwidth data connections with unmanned vehicles, seabed sensors, and potentially other submarines in the battlespace. This capability will support real-time targeting and sensor fusion, enabling the submarine to act as a central node in distributed maritime operations. Such a development eliminates the limitations of burst transmission and allows undersea platforms to contribute continuously to a broader kill web linking air, sea, land, and cyber domains.