Internal Navy report reveals delays in key US programs as China expands fleet

The U.S. Navy’s biggest trade show, just outside of Washington, D.C., is underway on Monday, April 8. However, don’t expect to hear about the Navy’s key shipbuilding programs at the Navy’s Sea-Air-Space Exposition. Officers in charge of the service’s key shipbuilding programs won’t be informing the media about them.

Navy officials have been told not to give progress updates about the critical projects after a report on the state of submarine and aircraft carrier production on Tuesday, April 2. The analysis found that some projects are as many as three years behind schedule.

Navy officials blame frequent design changes, workforce shortages and fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic for slowing production. The Navy said recent limitations on defense spending have also hurt major projects.

The Pentagon has spent billions of dollars on modernizing shipyards but $3.4 billion for the Submarine Industrial Base remains stalled in the U.S. Congress. Funding for new ships is reportedly limited because of last year’s deal to raise the debt limit.

Some in Congress are working to solve some of the issues with production delays in the Navy.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., who chairs the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, said that the review exposes significant workforce shortfalls. Kaine said he’s using upcoming defense legislation to expand job training programs for shipbuilders.

The Navy’s production report comes as China’s navy has grown beyond the size of the United States Navy. The U.S. Navy said it must counter Beijing’s expansion.

Some significant projects facing production setbacks include two classes of nuclear-powered submarines, the third Gerald R. Ford-Class Aircraft Carrier Enterprise, the First Constellation-Class Frigate and modernized versions of the Workhorse Virginia-Class Submarine.

Funding problems have also led to one attack submarine’s production being scrapped. The Navy said it needs to pour billions of dollars into modernizing and upgrading shipyards, and it’s looking into issues to develop plans of action.

“The delays we see today across these programs will have real ramifications for our national defense as we seek to deter adversaries like China, Russia and Iran,” said Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va.

Wittman also said that decades of underinvestment have also played a role in slowed production.