Rebuilding the United States submarine industrial base requires a massive surge in manufacturing capacity, moving from 13 million hours of labor per vessel to 70 million hours to support the Columbia and Virginia-class programs. Admiral Robert Gaucher, the Pentagon’s first submarine portfolio manager, emphasizes that submarines remain the survivable leg of the nuclear triad, necessitating urgent fleet replenishment. To overcome the shortage of skilled labor and the loss of manufacturing expertise since the Cold War, Chris Power, CEO of Hadrian, advocates for integrating American software with advanced factory automation. This approach aims to achieve a productivity jump, enabling high-mix, low-volume production with the precision required for deep-sea operations. By centralizing command and control and leveraging flexible manufacturing, the Navy seeks to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure the consistent delivery of critical maritime assets.
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