roughbarked said:

roughbarked said:

The US needs to significantly lift the pace of production of nuclear-powered submarines in order to sell several of the boats to Australia under the AUKUS agreement.

But more than two years after the US Congress authorised the Pentagon to award a major submarine-building contract, it remains unsigned.
What’s next?

The Navy says the contract is in the “final stages” of being awarded as an AUKUS supporter in Congress presses for the contract to be finalised.

Construction contract hold-up could delay submarine builds needed for AUKUS
By Brad Ryan in Washington DC

Topic:Navy

13m ago
13 minutes ago
Several crew members walk on top of a submerged, docked submarine.

Australia is set to buy several Virginia-class submarines from the US in the 2030s, but the sale may not happen if the pace of production does not increase. (Reuters: Colin Murty/Pool)
In short:

The US needs to significantly lift the pace of production of nuclear-powered submarines in order to sell several of the boats to Australia under the AUKUS agreement.

But more than two years after the US Congress authorised the Pentagon to award a major submarine-building contract, it remains unsigned.
What’s next?

The Navy says the contract is in the “final stages” of being awarded as an AUKUS supporter in Congress presses for the contract to be finalised.
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The US Navy’s submarine-building program — which Australia is relying on for its naval fleet — risks another slowdown due to delays awarding a critical construction contract.

The delays threaten to affect the production of nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines, which Australia intends to buy from the US under the AUKUS security pact.

Australia expects to receive at least three of the submarines in the 2030s.

But the sales will only go ahead if the US can build enough of the boats for its own fleet. That requires a significant improvement in the pace of production, the US Navy admits.

“Clearly, there are entities or bureaucrats in the administration that are not all in on this goal,” congressman Joe Courtney, who founded the bipartisan AUKUS Working Group, said.

“The Virginia-class … multi-year contracts continue to be delayed, despite all consensus that procurement stability will strengthen investment in facilities and workforce.”

The contract remains unsigned for 28 months.

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