US Navy weighs “Super Intelligence” role in designing a quieter SSN(X) attack submarine

The US Naval Sea Systems Command issued a presolicitation seeking industry ideas for applying advanced artificial intelligence, described as Super Intelligence, to the future SSN(X) nuclear attack-submarine design. Proposed applications include acoustic quieting, engineering optimization, increased weapons capacity and integration of unmanned systems, but the Navy has not released a definitive technical specification. Interested suppliers were asked to provide information by November 13, 2026, with a potential later development phase using Other Transaction Authority contracting. The effort is early market research and risk reduction for a submarine class whose first procurement is envisaged around 2040, not a construction contract.