Image source: topwar.ru
Overcoming the difficulties, the American Naval Command is striving to modernize its fleet of submarines. The U.S. Navy requires shipbuilders to supply at least three submarines per year. We are talking about one Columbia-class strategic submarine and two Virginia-class multipurpose submarines.
Although the production of components for submarines in the United States has increased 3.5 times since 2018, even this is not enough to fulfill the task set by the command. It is necessary to double the achieved production rates.
In addition, there is an acute personnel problem in the American shipbuilding industry. Therefore, the US Navy and manufacturing companies have launched a joint project to recruit and train workers and engineers. This will expand the production staff by more than 12,000 people.
In addition, the emphasis is on the modernization of the production process and the introduction of the latest technologies. In particular, 3D printing has been actively used in shipbuilding to accelerate the production of necessary parts. This has already reduced the submarine production process by about 1,000 hours.
Columbia-class submarines are to replace Ohio-class submarines, which are part of the US nuclear triad.
Image source: topwar.ru
The Virginia—class multipurpose submarines serve as the "workhorses" of the US Navy, solving a variety of tasks - from "hunting" enemy submarines to Tomahawk cruise missile strikes against ground targets.
