The U.S. Navy is currently facing challenges related to schedule delays, supply chain issues, and workforce shortages in its efforts to produce submarines. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., vice chair of the House Armed Services Committee, has suggested that the Navy may need to utilize private repair shipyards to enhance its capacity.
Wittman emphasized the potential of existing maintenance yards, noting that these facilities often have the capability to handle both repairs and new construction work. “Ship maintenance yards have a whole bow wave of work that comes in, they get the work done, and then the work drops off,” he stated during a Defense One event. He identified smaller contractors being used by larger shipyards for parts of ship construction and emphasized the need for incentives to ensure timely work completion and to encourage diversification within shipbuilding enterprises.
Earlier in 2023, the Navy established a program office focused on converting submarine industrial base efforts toward sustainment and repair, according to Matt Sermon, executive director of the strategic submarines program. The Navy’s priority for 2024 supplemental funding includes ship repair and maintenance, underscoring the importance of these efforts in achieving sustainment goals.
Currently, U.S. shipyards are reportedly up to three years behind on orders for Columbia and Virginia-class submarines, and the AUKUS deal with Australia further complicates the situation. The Navy aims to produce one Columbia-class submarine and two Virginia-class submarines per year while ensuring that 80% of attack submarines are operational for the upcoming years.
Vice Adm. Johnny Wolfe noted challenges in maintaining the timeline for the Columbia program; however, he reassured that existing Ohio-class submarines could fulfill deterrent capabilities if delays occurred. The workforce shortage is a significant factor in these production delays, leading the Department of Defense to invest billions into rebuilding the submarine workforce, including an unconventional job advertisement campaign.
To address these issues, the Pentagon has awarded contracts to firms like Deloitte, totaling up to $2.4 billion, and nearly $1 billion to BlueForge Alliance aimed at improving shipbuilding capacity and addressing workforce shortages. The Navy plans to request $4 billion for 2025 to enhance various aspects of submarine building, including workforce training and supply chain infrastructure.
In September 2023, the Navy awarded a $50 million contract to BlueForge, which has a ceiling of $950 million and is expected to receive further funding in 2025. BlueForge previously received approximately $700 million as a subcontractor to General Dynamics Electric Boat for managing workforce challenges in the submarine industrial base.
