Shipbuilders Council of America’s Post

#NAVSEANews Alert! Today the US Navy awarded General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (General Dynamics NASSCO), a contract for a block buy of up to eight John Lewis Class Fleet Replenishment Oilers (T-AOs). Vital to the Navy’s Combat Logistic Force, T-AOs are essential to providing refueling capabilities throughout the Fleet. The first ship from this contract is scheduled to be delivered in 2029. The use of this T-AO “block buy” contract will result in a significant savings compared to the total costs of carrying out the program through separate annual contracts. T-AO program savings of $491 million across six fiscal years are expected. This T-AO block buy delivers on the Department of Navy’s commitment to get more players on the field while growing near-term capability and capacity. In keeping with the Secretary of the Navy’s Maritime Statecraft initiative, this award reflects innovation to build and sustain our maritime dominance and allows for critical investment and sustainment of our shipbuilding industrial base, helping to ensure stability, and jobs for the next decade. Read more about this significant contract announcement at the links below: https://lnkd.in/ePfBje9q https://lnkd.in/eqj_KT8N #MorePlayersOnTheField Picture: U.S. Navy photo of T-AO 207

Several U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs are behind schedule; a review highlighted delays and workforce challenges affecting the construction of Virginia-class attack submarines, Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, and the future Enterprise nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Follow us for the latest news updates ➡️ Global Defense Online https://lnkd.in/eN8Y2mJQ #NavyNews #DefenseContracting #DefenseBudget #DefenseIndustryNews

Chinese shipyards are now in the best times and prepared to back a long war in the Indo-Pacific. The fact that they are ready to build at wartime rates seems to be an indicator of the high level of preparedness for a long war. In contrast, the state of the shipbuilding industry in the United States is viewed as in tatters. The country's industrial base is faced with several critical challenges that have to be corrected with urgency in order to discourage a probable conflict with China. This is through increasing the country's shipyards' capacities and capabilities so as to be able to meet demands in the wake of war. The preparedness of China's shipyards in an extended war and the relative unpreparedness of American shipyards underline strategic challenges for the United States. The imperativeness of the challenges requires the United States to be engaged in reducing those risks to make sure the appropriate balance and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific are obtained. This circumstance underscores the need for having such shipbuilding capabilities in national defense and strategic preparedness, especially under the ever-growing tensions that exist between China and the United States. At Armes Precision of Lynchburg, Virginia, we are committed to significantly enhancing the nation's shipbuilding readiness. We invest in our workforce, nurturing skills to meet future challenges, and actively engage in research and development collaborations to bridge technology gaps. These initiatives are central to our mission to help streamline ship production, bolster the capabilities and efficiency of naval vessels, and secure the US's leadership in naval defense and strategic preparedness. #ShipyardReadiness #USChinaTensions #NationalDefense #AdvancedManufacturing #WorkforceDevelopment #StrategicPreparedness

The list of 19 ships the Navy expects to shed in the new 30 year plan: Los Angeles-class attack boats: Helena, USS Pasadena (SSN-752) and USS Topeka (SSN-754)  Cruisers: USS Philippine Sea (CG-58), USS Normandy (CG-60), USS Shiloh (CG-67) and USS Lake Erie (CG-70)  Whidbey Island class: USS Germantown (LSD-42) LCS: USS Jackson (LCS-6) and USS Montgomery (LCS-8) Avenger-class mine countermeasure ships: USS Sentry (MCM-3), USS Devastator (MCM-6), USS Gladiator (MCM-11) and USS Dextrous (MCM-13) Spearhead-class transports: USNS Spearhead (EPF-1), USNS Choctaw County (EPF-2), USNS Millinocket (EPF-3) and USNS Fall River (EPF-4) Montford Point-class staging dock: USNS John Glenn (ESD-2) The Navy’s 30-Year Plan Arrives - The Navy passed to Congress its Report to Congress on the Annual Long-Range Plan for Construction of Naval Vessels, commonly known as the 30-year shipbuilding plan. This year the Navy presented two plans, the all-the-money plan and the flat-budget plan. The all-the-money plan builds ships at the rate necessary to hit a planned fleet size of 381 by 2042. The flat-budget (and more realistic outlook) aims to field a height of 348 ships by 2042, according to the document. 

https://lnkd.in/eqfFmPrj We really appreciate Federal News Network allowing us to describe how Naval Sustainment System - Supply (NSS-S) has cut supply chain costs and improved readiness for both ships and aircraft.

Applying the Pareto Principle for Maximum Efficiency In our ongoing efforts to support the supply base, we are prioritizing the vital few to achieve maximum impact. By focusing on the top 20% of our non-conformities, we anticipate an 80% improvement in efficiency and quality. This strategic approach ensures that we optimize readiness in naval operations. Stay connected and learn more about our initiatives at www.RigFab.com or reach out to us at supplier.support@rigfab.com. #ParetoPrinciple #Efficiency #Quality #NavalOperations #SupplyChainManagement

There seems to be momentum building within the United States for a new National Maritime Strategy that will address shipbuilding. There are two issues. First, the United States does not have the number of ships that it needs. Second, the U.S. industrial base can neither meet the demand for new vessels nor adequately maintain the vessels that it already operates. Because of this, cooperation with foreign shipyards must be under consideration. Done thoughtfully, it can increase the size of the U.S. fleet and enable the transfer of important skills and technology to U.S. shipyards, addressing both issues. Too often when this comes up in conversation, people assert that it is illegal. They're wrong- it is legal to build U.S. Coast Guard and Navy vessels in foreign shipyards. It just takes some political will. I tackle this question in detail in today's issue of Sixty Degrees North. As always, click through to read more. If you enjoy what you read, please tell me my hitting the like button and subscribe so you never miss an update. And please share far and wide- it is important to keep the conversation going. All the Best, PGR

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2 / 2 Navy Shipbuilding Delays – Look in the Mirror As recently reported by USNI News, the design of the new Constellation-class frigate shared about 85 percent commonality with the original European multi-purpose frigate (FREMM) from which it is derived. Design changes by the Navy, however, have brought that commonality down to 15 percents, and raised cost dramatically. The Navy shipbuilding ills do not lie with the shipbuilders. The solution(s) to those ills lie in the Navy’s ability to work in and leverage the free-market economy.

Another must-read from the Congressional Research Service for defense planners… We are a Maritime Nation…we need to generate the elevated, predictable, sustained Congressional funding necessary to reinvigorate the shipbuilding industrial base…we must produce the modernized naval capabilities and capacities that our country very much needs…