The Virginia-class attack submarine USS New Mexico (SSN 779) transits the Thames River to her new homeport at Naval Submarine Base New London. New Mexico joins Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 4. (U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Patrick Evans/Released)
Seapower: NAVSEA Commander: Navy is 10 Subs Below its Needs
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy’s submarine force is not large enough to meet the needs of the nation, according to the Navy’s top ship acquisition admiral.
Moderating a panel on shipbuilding Jan. 14 at the Surface Navy Association National Symposium, Vice Adm. William H. Hilarides, commander, Naval Sea Systems Command, said the submarine force is “10 ships below what’s absolutely required to do the nation’s business in the 2020s.”
Hilarides noted that he was a submarine program manager when the decision was made in 2002 to maintain a build rate less than what could sustain the size of the force. He said that with the coming Ohio Replacement ballistic-missile submarine (SSBN) construction program there would not be funds enough to sustain the current rate of building two Virginia-class attack submarines (SSNs) per year.
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WNU Editor: This contrasts with last years "hope" that funds would be available to build 3 Virginia class subs a year.
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