AT&F’s Post

The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board argues the need for additional shipyards. Their points: Decades of political and institutional neglect have resulted in not enough submarines and shrinking maintenance capacity. The Navy’s goal is 66 submarines, currently has 49, and ~37% of the fleet is undergoing maintenance or repairs. The plan is to buy 2 new Virginia-class submarines a year, the industrial base is currently building 1.2.   #submarines #underseatech #shipyards

#EVENTUPDATE | #TeamVictoriaClass is thrilled to see #Babcock’s Strategic Advisor, DV (Jake) Jacobson, return to the 4th annual #DeepBlueForum as Master of Ceremonies! “The combined themes of this year’s conference – Canada’s submarines and endurance – could not be more timely. A three-ocean submarine capability is an essential part of the rebuild-for-the-future of Canada’s Royal Canadian Navy that is underway. But, great ships and submarines are not in themselves sufficient. Canada’s maritime capabilities must have endurance in all dimensions: the platforms themselves, the technology they contain and deploy, the crews that will prepare and operate them, and the industry base that supports and sustains them. All of these dimensions take time to build, hence the importance and timeliness of this conference. See you there!” ➡️To learn more about Jake and his role during the Deep Blue Forum, visit: https://lnkd.in/gpPFRP_4

🔍 Dive into the latest insights and innovations from Thinklogical ! Check out our LinkedIn post for a closer look at how we're reshaping the landscape of secure KVM solutions and innovating Naval Tech. Plus, catch up on our recent participation at AFCEA West in San Diego. Don't miss out on the conversation! #Thinklogical #Belden #AFCEAWest #Innovation 🚀🔗

Is this due to a lack of trust in the respective capabilities development and futures directorates of the Navy and Marine Corps (and supporting FFRDCs) after years of floundering future naval architecture studies? Assuming future thinking will concern both joint and combined matters and the office will be manned accordingly, is it a recognition that there must be additional Secretariat-level powers to smooth misalignment of resourcing priorities between the Navy and the Marine Corps? Is this the Secretary’s way to stand up to CAPE or have additional rigor behind cases presented to the Joint Staff? Several new offices coming on line for DoN in the past year. What’s the play?

🗞 What we're reading today: Bryan Clark's opinion piece in Defense News on opportunities the U.S. Navy can embrace in the next 2-3 years The bottom line: "Adm. Franchetti should accelerate the Navy’s efforts to integrate uncrewed systems into the force," Clark wries. Zoom out: "The Navy’s Unmanned Task Force, Task Force 59 and now Task Force 49 reflect new models for fielding new technology that focus on integrating systems of systems from existing parts rather than building new hardware from scratch. Adm. Franchetti should institutionalize efforts like these and provide them a reliable source of funding that can compete with traditional crewed platform response sponsors." Go deeper: Clark delivered the opening keynote at AUVSI Defense last year. Watch his remarks on Aville -- An AUVSI Community here → https://lnkd.in/egMBZjsy and register for AUVSI Defense on Sept 14, 2023 to get more insights on these topics here → https://lnkd.in/e8p4bVU4

The U.S. Navy plans to start building the next generation of destroyer, DDG(X), while the DDG 51s are still under construction, according to an article in USNI. Overlapping the two programs will provide stability for the workforce at Bath Iron Works and at HII, the two shipyards that build the Navy’s multi-mission surface combatants. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4riZem5

Seawolf Submarines Cost $3 billion per unit This, in turn, led to the design of the smaller Virginia class. The Seawolf class cost about $3 billion per unit ($3.5 billion for USS Jimmy Carter), making it the most expensive SSN submarine and second most expensive submarine ever, after the French SSBN Triomphant class.

Two pieces to read in tandem: “The Sinking Submarine Industrial Base” by Emma Salisbury on War on the Rocks: https://lnkd.in/gM826paB “AUKUS Sub Sale Will Cause 10-Year Dip in U.S. Attack Boat Inventory, Says CBO” by Mallory Shelbourne at U.S. Naval Institute News I’m a huge AUKUS supporter, but the US Navy must be resourced to maintain and grow its capacity rather than robbing from our own to pay our partners and allies over the long term. These pieces further reinforce that we need greater maritime infrastructure investment in public and private shipyards and down through primary, secondary, and tertiary contractors. And most fundamentally - these are generational investments; a single budget cycle can’t fix the hole we’ve dug or build a new foundation for future readiness. Si vis pacem, para bellum.

The U.S. Navy recently christened its latest addition to the Virginia-class submarine fleet, the Idaho (SSN 799), during a ceremony held at General Dynamics Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut on March 16th. This cutting-edge submarine, the 26th of its kind, has been meticulously crafted to fulfill the diverse and demanding mission requirements of the 21st century. From advanced stealth capabilities to state-of-the-art weaponry systems, the Idaho boasts a myriad of features that enable it to operate effectively in today's ever-evolving naval landscape. One notable aspect of the Idaho is its advanced propulsion system, which allows for enhanced speed and agility underwater. This ensures that the submarine can swiftly maneuver through various underwater environments, making it a formidable asset for strategic missions. Additionally, the Idaho is equipped with the latest communication technologies, enabling seamless coordination with other naval assets and command centers. This connectivity is crucial for maintaining situational awareness and executing missions with precision. Furthermore, the Idaho's advanced sensor suite provides unparalleled detection capabilities, allowing it to gather critical intelligence and maintain a vigilant watch over potential threats. Coupled with its sophisticated combat systems, the submarine is well-equipped to engage and neutralize adversarial targets with precision and efficiency. The Idaho truly represents the pinnacle of modern submarine technology, embodying the Navy's commitment to maintaining superiority in the maritime domain. #Christening #MarinerNews #MaritimeIndustry #ShippingNews

Leading officials from Coast Guard, Marines and Navy cited #innovation in contracting as a major reason for better delivery of #technology. We are very inspired by this quote by GovCIO from the article, “The changing approach to acquisition is not just within the work the Coast Guard does with the Navy, but also in strategy and mindset. Cultural shifts are critical to readiness.” Read more:    https://lnkd.in/gpWSVSeG