The U.S. Navy’s submarine-building program, which makes submarines for both the U.S. military and its allies in the UK and Australia, is facing serious problems that could impact future global conflicts, especially a possible war with China in the Pacific.
Lately, the Navy has been struggling with some bad news, and the latest issue is a massive crisis in its submarine construction program. The program is now $17 billion over budget, and the submarines are being delayed by up to three years. This has raised concerns about the overall strength of the United States as a global military power.
Congressman Ken Calvert (R-CA) recently called out the Navy, saying the submarine-building effort is in “crisis.” He expressed deep frustration with how the Navy is handling things, stating that the programs are consistently behind schedule and are costing more than expected. He said he had no confidence that the Navy’s shipbuilding would improve unless immediate action is taken.
Calvert was especially critical of Navy leadership, accusing them of hiding crucial information about the delays and costs from both lawmakers and the public. He said that the Navy’s plans to fix these issues are mostly just “wishful thinking.” According to Calvert, the Navy had committed to building two Virginia-class submarines per year, but in reality, they have only managed to build about 1.3 submarines annually. This shortfall could weaken U.S. military readiness at a time when threats from other countries are growing.
The Navy, in turn, blamed the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic for its failures. Navy officials said that the pandemic disrupted U.S. manufacturing and made companies hesitant to invest in new projects. The broader issue seems to be that the U.S. military relies heavily on private contractors, and these companies, driven by profit, have been responsible for cost overruns and equipment shortages.
One alarming example of how the U.S. military is falling behind is the fact that Russia is now producing three times more artillery shells than both the U.S. and Europe combined, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine. This raises the question of whether the U.S. military can meet its future needs in the face of rising global threats.
There have also been concerns about a general decline in discipline and effectiveness within the Navy. The situation has been compounded by a series of embarrassing incidents, such as ship collisions and breakdowns, which further highlight the challenges the U.S. military faces in maintaining its once-unchallenged dominance.
Congressman Calvert’s criticism didn’t stop with the Navy’s current struggles. He also accused Navy officials of keeping lawmakers in the dark about the severity of the crisis. According to him, Navy leadership had been aware of these issues for at least 18 months, but Congress was only informed two weeks ago. This lack of transparency has made it difficult for lawmakers to make informed decisions and take action.
Calvert’s message was clear: The Navy’s approach to managing its shipbuilding programs has been flawed, and the lack of urgency from both the Navy and its contractors is creating a dangerous cycle of failure. He called for a “frank conversation” about these management failures and demanded that the Navy stop hiding the truth from Congress and the public.
At a time when tensions are rising with countries like China, and the U.S. is involved in proxy wars such as the conflict in Ukraine, the effectiveness of the military has never been more important. But with submarines and warships being delayed and budgets spiraling out of control, many are starting to question whether the U.S. is truly prepared for the global challenges ahead.
