US Navy selects five companies to develop first prototype of future SLCM-N sea-launched nuclear cruise missile.

On August 22, 2025, the US Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and Navy Strategic Systems Programs selected five companies to advance on the development of the future Sea-Launched Cruise Missile–Nuclear (SLCM-N). Leidos, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman were selected as prime contractors for missile development and integration, while Florida Turbine Technologies, a Kratos company, was chosen for missile technology development. This effort, carried out under the Strategic & Spectrum Missions Advanced Resilient Trusted Systems (S²MARTS) contracting framework, marks a significant step toward the reintroduction of nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missiles into the US arsenal.
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The SLCM-N is planned for deployment on Virginia-class attack submarines, launched through both torpedo tubes and Virginia Payload Modules, representing the first reintroduction of a nuclear cruise missile to fast-attack submarines since the TLAM-N was withdrawn in the 1990s and fully retired in 2013. (Picture source: US DoD)

The US Navy has emphasized that the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile–Nuclear (SLCM-N) will build on existing technologies and adapt proven design concepts, an approach expected to shorten development cycles compared to creating a new system from scratch. The program is intended to restore a theater-level nuclear option at sea that was lost after the retirement of the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile–Nuclear (TLAM-N) in 2013. The US Navy has set a goal of achieving initial operational capability by fiscal year 2034, with deployment planned for Virginia-class attack submarines. The missile is being designed to provide a survivable and flexible option to respond to regional nuclear threats, with planning focused on adapting a variant of the W80-4 warhead currently in development for the Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO). The reintroduction of a sea-based nuclear cruise missile is described in official statements as a means of expanding presidential response options and complementing the U.S. nuclear triad.

Technical descriptions of this new nuclear-armed, sea-launched cruise missile point to a modular “all-up-round” design consisting of an expendable booster, missile body, and canister loaded together into submarine payload tubes. This arrangement simplifies handling, logistics, and system integration by treating the missile as a single packaged unit. Early technical efforts are focused on trade studies examining propulsion, guidance, survivability, and cost. Contractors are also tasked with establishing digital engineering environments to manage interfaces, specifications, and verification records across the missile and launch systems. The Virginia Payload Tubes and Virginia Payload Module have been identified as the primary launch interfaces, requiring adaptation to ensure compatibility with nuclear warhead storage and deployment requirements. These measures are intended to support both conventional submarine operations and the additional nuclear role without significantly altering submarine deployment patterns. Therefore, while exact dimensions have not been published, the SLCM-N is expected to be broadly comparable to a Tomahawk cruise missile, which measures about 5.6 m in length, 0.52 m in diameter, and has a launch weight of 1,450–1,600 kg depending on configuration. A similar form factor would allow compatibility with existing Virginia Payload Tubes without major redesign.

The missile will likely use a solid rocket booster for initial launch from the canister, followed by a turbofan engine for sustained cruise, mirroring Tomahawk propulsion. Range is not officially released but is expected to fall in the 2,000–2,500 km class, consistent with TLAM-N and long-range LRSO design goals. Guidance is anticipated to use a combination of inertial navigation systems (INS), terrain contour matching (TERCOM), digital scene-matching area correlation (DSMAC), and GPS updates. Survivability against modern defenses may require additional integration of electronic counter-countermeasures and low-observable flight profiles. Digital engineering efforts under the SLCM-N program are expected to refine these systems for contested environments.

Integration of SLCM-N onto Virginia-class submarines introduces challenges that are both technical and operational. The submarines were not originally designed to carry nuclear weapons, and the introduction of this role will require modifications to procedures for custody, handling, training, and mission planning. Statements from Navy officials have underscored the need to balance the nuclear mission with conventional operations to preserve the core role of the Virginia-class fleet. Publicly available information indicates that workforce growth, infrastructure adjustments, and training pipelines will be expanded to manage this integration. These measures are considered necessary to ensure that fast-attack submarines remain capable in their traditional missions while also supporting a limited nuclear strike capability.

Warhead development is proceeding in parallel under the National Nuclear Security Administration. The W80-4, already under development for the Air Force’s Long-Range Standoff Weapon (LRSO), is identified as the primary candidate for SLCM-N. Officials have stated that the warhead, a modernized derivative of the W80 series with selectable low-yield settings estimated between 5 and 150 kilotons, remains on schedule, but they have also acknowledged that alternative warhead options may be selected if necessary to reduce disruption to other nuclear modernization programs. This provides flexibility to the missile program and allows for adjustments to warhead specifications if integration risks arise. Analysts and policymakers have noted that existing missile designs, such as Tomahawk variants or components of the LRSO, may be used as technical references for the SLCM-N, highlighting the emphasis on leveraging mature systems rather than developing entirely new designs. This approach is expected to influence factors such as missile size, weight, and compatibility with submarine launch systems.

The historical context of SLCM-N begins with the Tomahawk Land Attack Missile–Nuclear (TLAM-N), first deployed in the mid-1980s as a nuclear-armed version of the Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile. TLAM-N had a range of about 2,500 kilometers and was not subject to U.S.-Soviet arms control limits. The system was withdrawn from deployment in 1992 as part of unilateral U.S. initiatives at the end of the Cold War, though the Navy retained the option to redeploy it on attack submarines. In 2010, the Obama administration recommended retiring the system permanently, citing redundancy with other nuclear capabilities, and by 2013, the retirement was complete. The Trump administration reversed this position in 2018 by proposing SLCM-N, describing it as a modest supplement to deter limited nuclear use by adversaries. This historical trajectory highlights shifts in U.S. policy regarding sea-based nuclear cruise missiles and provides context for the current program’s objectives.

Debate around the Sea-Launched Cruise Missile–Nuclear (SLCM-N) continues, with arguments centered on capability, cost, and operational tradeoffs. Proponents point to its survivability, mobility, and value as a regional deterrent that complements air-delivered systems and low-yield ballistic missile warheads, while critics emphasize the reduction in conventional strike capacity on attack submarines, logistical challenges, and the possibility of complicating allied basing and port access. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that combined costs for the missile and warhead could reach $10 billion between 2023 and 2032, excluding later production and operations, while the Navy in 2022 projected that cancellation could save more than $2 billion over five years. Despite these concerns, Congress has directed the Navy and the National Nuclear Security Administration to proceed, requiring initial operational capability by 2034. The program, therefore, continues as part of U.S. nuclear modernization while its eventual role within the broader deterrence strategy is still under debate.

Written by Jérôme Brahy.

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.