Editing Virginia-class submarine (section)

=== Technology barriers ===
Because of the low rate of ''Virginia'' production, the Navy entered into a program with [[DARPA]] to overcome technology barriers to lower the cost of attack submarines so that more could be built, to maintain the size of the fleet.<ref>{{cite report|last= O'Rourke |first= Ronald|url= https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32914.pdf|title=Navy Ship Acquisition: Options for Lower-Cost Ship Designs — Issues for Congress |series=RL32914|publisher=Congressional Research Service|date=23 June 2005|access-date=23 November 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121025051947/http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/RL32914.pdf|archive-date=25 October 2012|url-status= live}}</ref>

These include:<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/STO/Programs/Tango_Bravo.aspx|title=Tango Bravo|work=Strategic Technology Office|publisher=[[DARPA]]|access-date=17 October 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121014043812/http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/STO/Programs/Tango_Bravo.aspx|archive-date=14 October 2012}}</ref>
* Propulsion concepts not constrained by a centerline shaft.
* Externally stowed and launched weapons (especially torpedoes).
* Conformal alternatives to the existing spherical sonar array.
* Technologies that eliminate or substantially simplify existing submarine hull, mechanical, and electrical systems.
* Automation to reduce crew workload for standard tasks