Part 3/9:
The US Naval Production Crisis
A significant concern voiced in the interview is the state of American submarine production. Currently, the US Navy is striving to ramp up its attack submarine fleet from 49 to 65 but faces multiple challenges. Production rates are stagnant at about 1.3 submarines annually, far below the needed 2.3. The hurdles include labor shortages, with welders and electricians in short supply, and systemic bottlenecks that date back to Cold War-era defenses.
This production shortfall complicates Washington's ability to deliver the promised three to five submarines to Australia starting around 2032. The timeline appears increasingly uncertain given the US Navy’s struggles to meet its own fleet expansion goals.