News from 2024 ASIU: Navy Hopes to Bump Sub Production to 3 Per Year by 2028

The Navy aspires to boost its submarine production from an underperforming 1.3 in 2024 to one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class by 2028 through a plan called “1+2+Sustainment by 2028.” The 1+2 refers to the one Columbia-class submarine and two Virginia-class, with sustainment including obligations such as supporting the AUKUS agreement — a trilateral security partnership between the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.

Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker, program executive officer for attack submarines, said at the Naval Submarine League’s Annual Symposium and Industry Update Nov. 13 that the plan means “achieving and sustaining serial production of one Columbia and two Virginias per year” as well as supporting 80 percent operational availability for attack submarines “each and every year,” and delivering improved warfighting capability.

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