In a recent Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower hearing, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville engaged with key military officials about the current state of nuclear shipbuilding. The discussions focused on enhancing capabilities for companies like Austal in Mobile to produce better submarines for the Navy.
Senator Tuberville addressed initial challenges in the workforce, stating, “I haven’t been in this business long, but I’ve noticed shortcomings of shipbuilding since I’ve been on this [Sub]committee and [the Senate] Armed Services Committee.”
Admiral Weeks commented on the importance of expanding the shipbuilding industrial base, saying, “As we look at the constrained capacity in our primary build yards, it’s really important that we recognize that broadening that shipbuilding industrial base—the shipbuilding base beyond those two yards—is really the opportunity we need.”
The significance of this expansion in competing with other nations was noted by Tuberville, asking, “You think it’ll help us catch up with the Chinese and their expansion of their submarines?” To which Weeks affirmed, “I think it’s absolutely critical that we expand our industrial base.”
Admiral Rucker highlighted the progress in outsourcing module production, noting, “We have a goal by 2026 to get up to about 7,000,000 man-hours annually.” He added that Austal had delivered “the first two large sub modules for the Virginia class.”
Admiral Moton shared his perspective on outsourcing as a critical strategy, emphasizing the advancements at Austal, “I think it’s a critical part of our strategy to, as you say, to improve our pace of shipbuilding.”
Senator Tuberville also inquired about the supply of nickel, a critical component for submarines. Mr. Sermon from the Office of the Secretary of Defense assured, “We do continue to have both price fluctuations, which are of course related to supply, but [are] committed to addressing those.”
The development of a public-private partnership to expand the industrial base in Alabama was also discussed, with Sermon explaining the significance of the land acquisition: “Our intention in an opportunity zone, public-private partnership is to work to bring that land into battery.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville serves Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of several key committees, including the Senate Armed Services Committee.
