Delays at naval shipyards mean that nearly 40% of US attack submarines are out of commission for repairs, about double the rate the Navy would like, according to new data released by the service.
As of this year, 18 of the US Navy’s 49 attack submarines — 37% — were out of commission, according to previously undisclosed Navy data published by the Congressional Research Service. That leaves the US at a critical disadvantage against China’s numerically superior fleet.
The maintenance backlog has “substantially reduced” the number of nuclear submarines operational at any given moment, cutting the “force’s capacity for meeting day-to-day mission demands and potentially putting increased operational pressure” on submarines that are in service, CRS naval analyst Ronald O’Rourke said in a July 6 report.
That’s up from 28% overall in 2017 and 33% in 2022, and below the industry best practice of 20%.
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Backlogs at overworked shipyards have left US attack submarines at a crucial disadvantage against China’s numerically superior fleet https://t.co/N0DOKv7yse
— Bloomberg (@business) July 11, 2023