There is every indication that the FY 89 concept has been motivated by an increasing ambition for tactical independence and an expanded role on the part of the U.S. submarine force. Detail of the proposed design reflect both dissatisfaction with existing US submarine designs, and also a very positive view of Soviet submarine designs, apparently particularly the 'Victor III'. Although there has been very little concrete disclosure of the FY89 design, enough has been said to make comparison with the earlier AHPNAS relevant. In each case, large size makes for a large and varied weapon load, with emphasis on long-range cruise missile capable of striking inland targets. To some extent the attack submarine's ability to carry a significant load of conventional (or even nuclear) land-attack cruise missiles close to key Soviet maritime shore facilities early in a war compensates for the increasing vulnerability of the carrier battle groups currently assigned to this role.
[....] The new submarine will probably have a pump-jet, for higher-speed passive operation: conventional propellers are said to contribute greatly to noise above about 12 knots. The other complaint is insufficient torpedo tubes and weapons. There is also intense dissatisfaction with the current torpedo tube configuration, in which the tubes angle out and down abaft the sonar bow. Sketches of the new design therefore show a much more powerful salvo, eight tubes arrayed across the bow itself in two rows. It appears that there will be two full row of reloads behind each tube, which probably implies capacity for about 40-60 torpedoes altogether. There is also talk of a few (perhaps two) large diameter (30in) tubes, as a hedge against requirements for much larger torpedoes. That leaves only the space under the nest of tubes for a big active/passive sonar to replace the current sphere.
[....] The standard complaint -- insufficient speed -- may be answered by a new PWR plant with about twice the output of the present one. That would allow for about 70 percent displacement growth at the same speed, or for some considerable increase in both speed and displacement. Perhaps more important, the greater the maximum speed, the greater the maximum 'quiet' speed; higher speed becomes more valuable as submarine silencing and signal processing improve to make better use of it.
[....] For many year US submariners have complained of 'snap roll', which they often attribute to the size and position of the sail. The new design therefore shows a much smaller sail, more like the Soviet than the earlier U.S. type. This requires the bow planes to be relocated, and from FY 83 onwards U.S. attack submarines are to have them in the conventional forward position.
[....] Other changes are to include the first US anechoic coatings and probably an X-stern. Although the FY 89 submarine is to have a US-style single hull, it will have a new beamier hull form, with a lower length-to beam ratio reminiscent of the fast Skipjack. This is a very large submarine, almost certainly much costlier than any repeat Los Angeles, let alone any of the smaller submarines (such as the 'fleet attack' or 'Fat Albert') proposed from time to time. In many ways its proposed design appears to reflect a view that American designers have been far too conservative, and have been overtaken by developments in Europe and in the Soviet Union. Some would go so far as to describe it as an Americanised (if grossly enlarged) 'Victor'.