Page 18: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2023)

GOVERNMENT SHIPBUILDING

THE U.S. NAVY NEEDS MORE

SHIPS, & NEEDS THE INDUSTRY

HII photo by Chris Oxley “PICK UP THE PACE”

By Edward Lundquist he demand for warships is strong, and the Navy Gilday told industry to “pick up the pace.” continues to receive support from the Congress to “We’re paying a lot of money, but we’re not necessarily get- build more ships. The Navy is working to achieve ting what we’re paying for with respect to two or three ships

T a ? eet of about 355 ships, plus a ? eet of about 150 per year,” he said, referring to the three-per-year desired pro- unmanned vessels duction rate for Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroy-

But to achieve something close to that goal requires more ers, as well as the two-per-year desired production rate for than demand, and even more than money. For one thing, it Virginia-class submarines. “I know that there are constraints requires an industrial base that can build, repair and sustain with respect to the workforce. I know that we’re trying to get that ? eet. after supply chain problems. We just need to do better.”

While Navy leadership acknowledges the challenges of a More ships may look better on paper, but may not be realistic. stressed supply chain, covid, and a workforce of experienced “If we buy ships at a rate faster than we can sustain, we’re shipbuilders that is aging out, top Navy of? cials are impatient going to pay for it and I’ve just been unwilling to go down that with the slow progress. path,” Gilday said. “We’re not going to have a Navy bigger

Congress has been supportive in funding new ships, but some than one we can sustain, bigger than one we can afford.” experts question whether the industrial base can deliver them. The Navy has more submarines under construction and order

At the recent Surface Navy Association 35th Annual Sym- than it has in decades. The Navy wants two Virginia-class subs posium in Washington, Chief of Naval Operations Michael per year, but industry is only delivering at a rate of 1.2 a year. 18 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • February 2023

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