US Navy officials note programme delays and cost issues for construction of submarines and aircraft carriers

Shipbuilders have not been able to reach the production rates necessary for Virginia-class submarines such as New Jersey , pictured here. (Janes/Michael Fabey)

The US Navy (USN) is facing delivery delays and cost concerns with its programmes to build nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers, USN officials testified on 8 April to the Senate Armed Services Committee's Subcommittee on Seapower.

Of particular concern to the navy and lawmakers is the delivery delay projected for the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), which the USN says is its top acquisition priority.

“Based on shipbuilder performance, supply chain challenges, and the complexity of first-of-class construction and testing of this new submarine, delivery is projected to be 12–18 months late to contract delivery date,” according to a joint written testimony provided by Rear Admiral Todd Weeks, programme executive officer, Strategic Submarines; Rear Admiral Casey J Moton, programme executive officer, Aircraft Carriers; Rear Admiral Jonathan Rucker, programme executive officer, Attack Submarines; and Matthew Sermon, direct reporting programme manager, Maritime Industrial Base (MIB).

“The navy is working with both [submarine shipbuilders] General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) and Huntington Ingalls Newport News Shipbuilding (HII-NNS) to implement an aggressive, alternative build strategy to recover up to 12 months of schedule, improve overall performance, and deliver the lead ship as rapidly as possible,” the USN officials testified.

Their testimony underscored the need to get the first submarine, District of Columbia (SSBN 826), delivered as close to the intended scheduled date as possible.

“The current Ohio-class SSBN force is reaching the end of its operational life and must be replaced to meet US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) strategic deterrence requirements. The first Columbia-class submarine must be ready for patrol by FY (fiscal year) 2031 to meet USSTRATCOM requirements,” they added.