QFR-2027-0142
Submarine construction industrial base and supplier stability
SASC · SSIC 5216 · Suspense 2026-07-22
Part a.
What steps is the Navy taking to stabilize the submarine supplier base and increase build rate toward two Virginia-class submarines per year while ramping Columbia-class production?
Part b.
How is the Navy measuring the effect of workforce-development investments on throughput at the shipyards and their suppliers?
ETMS2
ETMS2-1180244
Hearing
S.Hrg. 119-114, Subcommittee on Seapower, 11 Mar 2026
Received
2026-07-08
OPR
N83
OCR
N80, N81
Drafted from the question, guidance library, and prior answers. Edit before it enters coordination — every save is audited.
**Response to QFR from Sen. Ashcombe — Submarine Industrial Base** (a) The Navy is pursuing a coordinated set of actions to stabilize the submarine supplier base and support increased Virginia-class output while ramping Columbia-class construction.¹ These include multi-year procurement and advance-procurement structures that provide a stable demand signal to vendors,² targeted investments in the submarine industrial base to expand critical supplier capacity, and continued emphasis on a predictable build cadence.³ The Department remains committed to strengthening the maritime industrial base through a stable, predictable demand signal.⁴ (b) The Navy assesses the effect of workforce-development investments through throughput and hiring-and-retention metrics at the shipyards and key suppliers, and correlates those measures with production milestones.¹ Prior-year reporting on maintenance and construction throughput informs this assessment and provides year-over-year traceability.⁵
- [1] g3
- [2] g7
- [3] g1
- [4] g9
- [5] g5
The draft is unlocked once required inputs return from OCR offices. Auto-suggested from question NLP.
N80/Industrial Base
Confirm supplier count for critical sub-assemblies.
Due 2026-07-14
Program office
FY2027 planned procurement rate + rough delta vs. PB.
Due 2026-07-16
N81/Assessments
Schedule-risk narrative if throughput flat.
Due 2026-07-15
2 of 4 units returned
1 overdue
CNSP
Commander, Naval Surface Force Pacific
Provide surface-fleet perspective on submarine industrial-base impacts to surface combatant availability and integrated logistics support.
Response · 2026-07-13
CNSP reports no direct dependency on submarine industrial base for FY27 surface combatant availabilities. However, shared supplier constraints on high-yield steel castings (HY-100/HY-130) affect DDG destroyer and Virginia-class alike; three suppliers currently qualified across both programs. Recommend combined-buy language to preserve supplier viability.
Suspense 2026-07-14
NAVSEA-PEO-SHIPS
NAVSEA — PEO Ships
Confirm PEO Ships supplier count for critical sub-assemblies and current FY27 planned procurement rate.
Response · 2026-07-14
PEO Ships confirms 14 qualified suppliers for critical sub-assemblies (electrical distribution, HVAC, propulsion auxiliaries), a decrease of 2 vs. FY26. FY27 planned procurement rate remains 2 Virginia-class per year; risk is medium-high to sustaining that rate beyond FY29 without supplier-base investment. Delta vs. PB27: no change to procurement quantities; +$180M for supplier-base incentives.
Suspense 2026-07-14
NAVSUP
Naval Supply Systems Command (Fuel & Logistics)
Provide fuel/logistics posture affecting industrial-base surge capacity, including sealift POL throughput.
Suspense 2026-07-15
CNAF
Commander, Naval Air Forces
Aviation-side view on any shared supplier constraints (composites, avionics castings) with the submarine industrial base.
Suspense 2026-07-20
Multi-office clearance. Counsel + Security + Comptroller gates trigger conditionally on content.