Refine your question: How far into the future? The next class of boats, or the boat of the next century? In whose navy will this appear?
One reason that the sail hasn't gone away yet is that it provides protection for sensors and devices that must be extended above the surface of the water; it also assists with stealth for the same reason. Imagine having to come almost completely to the surface to poke your scope or radio antenna out of the water!! One bad wave at high sea state and "Hello World! Here I am!" Having a sail in place provides a way to keep the hull beneath the surface while your masts and antennas are extended.
I don't dispute that in the future, there may be ways to eliminate the sail for this purpose by creating a bouyant sensor pod that contains scopes and comm and detection antennas, even though this does not address the need for stealth and protection while using a snorkel mast, which is still used in normal and emergency ventilation situations.
TG
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