GAO recommends better oversight of support for shipyards in the face of capacity concerns
General Dynamics Electric Boat is supporting Virginia-class submarines but the GAO says the wider industry is struggling with maintenance capacity. (Photo: USN)
The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) believes the US industrial base will struggle to meet US Navy (USN) requirements. This follows recent warnings from USN heads of a decline in resources and that the industrial base is under strain.
The US shipbuilding industry is struggling to keep up with the USN’s requirements and is also battling to meet maintenance requirements, according to a new US GAO report.
The report, Shipbuilding and Repair: Navy Needs a Strategic Approach for Private Sector Industrial Base Investments, was released on 27 February and states that the industry struggles as the USN has plans for a larger increase in the fleet than the industrial base has achieved.
It also notes that “while the ship repair industrial base has grown…companies may not be able to take on unplanned work (like emergent repairs) due to
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?]()
As Indonesia doubles up its order, who else is looking at the Arrowhead 140 frigate design?
The adaptable design of Babcock’s Arrowhead 140 frigate, already selected by the UK Royal Navy and Poland, has led to more orders from Indonesia while other countries continue to weigh it up.
-
![Does the increase in US firepower in the Middle East indicate another Iran strike?]()
Does the increase in US firepower in the Middle East indicate another Iran strike?
The presence of the USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf means additional naval and aerial capabilities, which provides the US with multiple attacking options.
-
![US Navy to invest more than $700 million in laser-related R&D efforts in FY2026]()
US Navy to invest more than $700 million in laser-related R&D efforts in FY2026
The US Navy’s acceleration of its laser weapon development initiatives reflects a decisive shift towards ultimately having a “laser on every ship” across tomorrow’s surface fleet.
