The US Navy’s FY 2026 budget request includes funding for 6 new “battle force” vessels, among them 2 nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) of the VIRGINIA class.

The 2 submarines have been named POTOMAC (SSN-814) and PORTLAND (SSN-815), officially marking the start of production for the Block VI configuration. This milestone reaffirms the US Navy’s long-term commitment to maintaining undersea superiority well into the 21st century.

A third VIRGINIA Block VI has been named BROOKLYN (SSN-816).

With these 3 vessels, the total number of VIRGINIA-class submarines will rise to 43, including boats in service (24), under construction, fitting out, under contract, or planned.

At present, 3 Block VI boats are officially confirmed (SSN-814, SSN-815, and SSN-816), although the total number to be built remains uncertain and will likely depend on how the future SSN(X) program evolves—especially in relation to the broader AUKUS partnership.

The FY2026 budget allocates $3.465 billion for the construction of POTOMAC and PORTLAND. This sum includes:

 - $1.681 billion for hull construction

 - $598 million for sonar and electronic sensor suites

 - $1.036 billion for the propulsion system

 - $150 million for platform equipment (referred to as HM&E—Hull, Mechanical & Electrical—in current terminology)

It is important to note that POTOMAC and PORTLAND already received advance procurement funding: $1.15 billion in FY2024 and $903.6 million in FY2025. These early investments were aimed at acquiring long-lead items—such as nuclear reactor components, special steel hull sections, and acoustic sensor arrays—to avoid material shortages and stabilize the production schedule ahead of major contract awards.

Both submarines are part of a multi-year procurement agreement spanning FY2025 through FY2029. The approach reflects the Navy’s acquisition strategy of ordering multiple boats per year (at least 2 annually), which helps contain costs, streamline supply chains, and ensure timely deliveries.

This acquisition strategy also supports the Navy’s broader long-term goal of producing 2 VIRGINIA-class SSNs and 1 COLUMBIA-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) per year through at least FY2028. To meet this goal, the Navy’s FY2026 budget includes an additional $130 million earmarked for bolstering the industrial base that supports submarine construction. The funding aims to prevent the types of delays and labor shortages experienced during the build-out of Block V submarines—specifically ARIZONA, BARB, TANG, WAHOO, SILVERSIDES, JOHN DALTON, LONG ISLAND, and SAN FRANCISCO.

On the technical and operational front, the Block VI boats will incorporate many features from previous VIRGINIA blocks, along with several key upgrades. These include a total of 40 vertical launchers—28 of which are housed in the VIRGINIA Payload Module—and the integration of underwater drones for long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

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Photo: USS IDAHO (SSN 799), a VIRGINIA-class Block IV submarine, photographed during its naming ceremony on March 16, 2024 (Courtesy of GDEB).