In the face of a Navy budget proposal that endangers the two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class submarines, a bipartisan group of over 100 US lawmakers has taken a firm stance to maintain a robust and consistent production schedule essential for both national security and industrial stability. The Navy’s FY25 budget request for a single Virginia-class submarine contradicts the established practice since 2011 and the Department of Defense’s National Defense Industrial Strategy, a point of contention that has drawn critical attention from both sides of the aisle.
Representatives Joe Courtney, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Trent Kelly, a Republican from Mississippi, have spearheaded a collective effort to advocate for the funding of two Virginia-class submarines. Their campaign is deeply rooted in a recognition of the strategic necessity to sustain and advance America’s undersea warfare capabilities in an era of increasing global competition. The duo, who occupy leading positions on the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, have amplified their voices in conjunction with 118 other lawmakers in a letter urging House appropriators to adhere to the two-sub cadence.
The letter sent to Congress underscores the lawmakers’ unease with the proposed reduction and highlights the ramifications it may have on the industrial base. “Sustainable production of the Virginia-class program, and the development of a follow-on attack submarine program, is key to maintaining our undersea advantage in the years ahead,” the letter asserts, reflecting the lawmakers’ united viewpoint.
The Navy’s budget choice, driven by program status rather than the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023’s spending constraints, has been met with skepticism on Capitol Hill. “But in my opinion, the Navy is looking backwards, not forwards, in terms of what’s actually happening in the shipyards with this proposal,” opined Representative Courtney, demonstrating a disconnect between Congressional perspectives and Navy justifications.
The lawmakers’ push aligns with the industry’s concerns. Phebe Novakovic, the chief executive of General Dynamics, the Navy’s prime contractor for submarines, has warned that the cutback may not immediately impact her company but could hold implications in the long term. Novakovic emphasized the importance of maintaining a steady supply chain for the health of the submarine industrial base, adding, “We have long-lead material on Virginia that is very important to the supply chain.”
Electric Boat, an influential player in submarine construction with facilities in Groton, Connecticut, and Quonset Point, Rhode Island, does not plan to alter its hiring goals despite the proposed budget changes. This signals an industry prepared to meet growing production demands over the next decade. The workforce is a key element, as highlighted by Nickolas Guertin, the assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development, and acquisition, who indicated the need to add 10,000 workers to support Virginia and Columbia-class submarine demands.
Relevant articles:
– More than 100 lawmakers call for appropriators to restore Navy’s second Virginia-class sub, Breaking Defense, 05/01/2024
– Joe Courtney pushes to restore Electric Boat submarine build rate, The Connecticut Mirror, 05/01/2024
– House lawmakers denounce Pentagon’s planned drop in submarine orders, NavyTimes.com, 05/01/2024