Shipbuilders’ group warns US failing to tap full naval industry capacity
Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan prepares for a dead-stick underway. (Photo: US Navy)
The Amphibious Warship Industrial Base Coalition has pointed out that issues related to bureaucracy, prerequisites and predictability have been limiting the involvement of smaller shipyards in military acquisition programmes in the US.
The US may not be fully utilising its current shipbuilding capacity, despite the pressing concern to keep pace with Chinese naval advancements. Difficult-to-attain requirements, low levels of predictability and bureaucracy have been cited by the Amphibious Warship Industrial Base Coalition (AWIBC) as issues preventing small and medium suppliers from participating in US Navy (USN), Marine Corps (USMC), and Coast Guard (USCG) programmes.
Relying on a few traditional shipyards for decades has resulted in multiple postponements of milestones of acquisition effort in addition to over costs, the coalition said.
Speaking to Shephard, AWIBC chair Paul J. Roden explained that
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Which countries could the US rely on to progress with its shipbuilding programmes?]()
Which countries could the US rely on to progress with its shipbuilding programmes?
The US Navy and US Coast Guard (USCG) are in critical need of support to build icebreakers, surface vessels and submarines.
-
![Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goals]()
Royal New Zealand Navy outlines modernisation goals
The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) has a crunch time coming up as it looks to refresh its fleet before 2040, and prepares to begin operating Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters, although it is at the back of a long ordering queue. A key part of any solution is looking at what neighbouring Australia is buying.
-
![US Coast Guard awards contracts for the construction of up to 150 aids to navigation vessels]()
US Coast Guard awards contracts for the construction of up to 150 aids to navigation vessels
Agreements with Inventech Marine Solutions and North River Boats cover the acquisition of trailerable aids to navigation boats and cutter boats - aids to navigation – small.
