Block V Virginia-class attack subs delayed 2 years due to staffing problems: GAO
Independent government auditors found the issues are driving up price, but not yet to the ceiling for the contracts.
By JUSTIN KATZ
on June 08, 2023 at 1:21 PM
WASHINGTON — Independent government auditors have found the Navy’s Virginia-class fast attack submarine program is continuing to “degrade,” and that problems with “staffing and work efficiency estimates” will result in each Block V boat taking an average of “over [two] years longer than reported last year.”
“Due to delays, program officials are developing a new, more realistic schedule for Block V. They said that they expect to complete this process in early 2023,” according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office outlining the status of various major Pentagon weapon system programs.
Auditors wrote that program officials said the Navy’s shipbuilders lack a sufficient workforce to complete the Virginia-class program while also building Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. “They noted VCS construction is about 25 percent below staffing needs as of September 2022,” according to the report. The potential for the workload of building both two Virginia-class submarines as well as one Columbia-class submarine each year to overwhelm the Navy and its industrial workforce has been a longstanding fear voiced by the Pentagon and lawmakers over the years.
https://breakingdefense.com/2023/06/block-v-virginia-class-attack-subs-delayed-2-years-due-to-staffing-problems-gao/
