By 2012, the U.S. Navy's deep-diving research submarine's reactor will be exhausted, making it necessary to refuel the reactor or replace the submarine. If the Navy opts for a new submarine, what would be its vital missions and what would it need to perform them? This executive summary of MR-1395 encapsulates the authors' work with scientists, defense experts, and the Navy to develop a concept of operation for a new platform, analyzing which missions should have the highest priority. They conclude with a list of highest-priority missions and two design concepts best able to achieve them.
