Baird Maritime reported October
24, 2024, at https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/naval/naval-submersibles/us-submarine-production-to-be-scaled-back-due-to-delay-in-component-deliveries
“US submarine production to be scaled back due to delay in component
deliveries”
“The lead contractor of the US Navy's submarine program has
confirmed that there will be a decrease in the rate of production of the
vessels due to supply chain-related issues.
During a recent third quarter earnings call with investors, Phebe
Novakovic, CEO of General Dynamics (GD), said that GD's Electric Boat division
would scale back its manufacture of Columbia-class and Virginia-class
nuclear-powered submarines to adjust to "late deliveries from major
component suppliers."
Novakovic remarked that it is "neither good for the boat over time
nor cost" to speed up the manufacture of only some of the sections of each
submarine only for the work to stop temporarily until the other essential
components are finally delivered.
Novakovic assured that the slowing down of submarine production would
not affect current delivery projections, which already take the anticipated
delays into account.
The scaling back of submarine production is the latest issue to be faced
by the US naval shipbuilding sector. Earlier this year, Huntington Ingalls
Industries (HII) found that workers at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS)
division had not been applying the correct welding techniques on some of the submarines and aircraft
carriers under construction at its facilities in Virginia.
HII said it found no evidence that the faulty welds were done
with any malicious intent. However, the House Armed Services Committee has
called on the Department of the Navy and the Department of Defense to provide
answers and a plan for how both the Department of the Navy and NNS will protect
US Navy vessels against knowingly faulty work.”
As the Virginia program suffers difficulties, UUV programs
ReplyDeletecontinue to move forward:
"Ghost Shark was among a host of uncrewed aerial drones,
boats, and submarines involved in a recent Australian-U.S.-U.K.
maritime exercise."
Source:
https://www.twz.com/sea/our-first-look-at-the-ghost-shark-uncrewed-submarine-underwater
Thanks Anonymous at 10/26/2024 6:57 AM for the Ghost Shark and other XLUUVs link https://www.twz.com/sea/our-first-look-at-the-ghost-shark-uncrewed-submarine-underwater
ReplyDeleteI think Australia has done well with much of the sponsorship and direction of Anduril's Ghost Shark (GS) program. The GS is well configured for the more mundane, less kinetic duties, like towed array sonar, electronic intercept, backing up seafloor sensors and beach and port observation.
The much larger, more expensive Orca XLUUVs are more tied to the USN which can afford them. Orcas might be trialled, even operated from US Pacific and Indian Ocean islands possibly to the Australian mainland.
I think weaponization of GS and Orcas might begin with remotely activated Smart Sea Mines. Light torpedoes and missiles might eventually follow once there is much more confidence in failsafe security, command and control of operation.
Regards Pete
Pete2 wrote:
Delete"I think weaponization of GS and Orcas might begin with remotely activated Smart Sea Mines. Light torpedoes and missiles might eventually follow once there is much more confidence in failsafe security, command and control of operation."
-------------------------------------------
The Taiwanese are already moving in this direction:
"The "Huilong" UUV, a collaborative effort between Taiwan's National Chung-
Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) and Lungteh Shipbuilding,
has already undergone two sea trials. The newly surfaced images, taken during
its current dry-dock operations, clearly display the bow with two square-shaped
torpedo launch tube openings, arranged symmetrically. One of these tubes had
its hatch open, and nearby, two yellow U-shaped cradles were observed, likely
intended for loading or testing torpedoes."
Source:
https://armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2024/taiwans-huilong-unmanned-submarine-revealed-with-hidden-torpedo-launch-capabilities
Hi Anonymous at 10/27/2024 5:25 AM re Taiwanese UUV
ReplyDeleteThat the Taiwanese might be moving too quickly in weaponizing the "Huilong" UUV with torpedoes is risky.
Secure communications and operation after many years is crucial.
There is a risk of the PRC physically seizing a torpedo armed Huilong UUV or electronically taking it over. Then that PRC controlled Huilong UUV might torpedo a large ferry or cruise ship with Taiwan being blamed. That would constitute a major international crisis against Taiwan and its US sponsor
More on the Huilong UUV:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.taiwanplus.com/news/taiwan-news/military/241024004/new-photos-reveal-potential-combat-capabilities-of-taiwans-huilong-uuv
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2024/taiwan-unveils-torpedo-launch-tube-of-huilong-unmanned-underwater-vehicle
Hi Anonymous at 10/29/2024 3:51 AM regarding Taiwan's minisub
ReplyDeleteTaiwan's Huilong has a CONNING TOWER indicating it may be a minisub prototype, which in test form is unmanned.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/navy-news/2024/taiwan-unveils-torpedo-launch-tube-of-huilong-unmanned-underwater-vehicle advises:
"Earlier, images of the propeller at the vehicle’s rear were also released. However, Taiwan's Defense Minister recently clarified over a lunch with the media that the Huilong platform is primarily intended for testing purposes, specifically for sonar and underwater mine systems, and does not feature an active propulsion system. Consequently, during sea trials, it is towed by support vessels rather than operating independently."