US Race to Rebuild Submarine Power Before China Catches Up

U.S. Submarine Industrial Base Challenges - The U.S submarine industrial base is facing a massive issue, causing concern among U.S officials [1] - Next-generation submarine programs are facing delays, including the Columbia Class submarines delayed by 12-17 months and Virginia Class attack submarines delayed by 24-36 months [2] - The U.S may not be able to produce enough submarines to replace aging fleets, and the Navy has not met its goal of building one Columbia Class and two Virginia Class submarines per year [3] - Shipyards are facing attrition rates as high as 30% for some skilled trades, with not enough new people to replace them [4] - The Navy needs to hire 140,000 workers over the next decade to meet the growing need for submarine construction and repair [5] China's Submarine Capabilities - China is rapidly building its undersea fleet at a rate of 4-6 nuclear-powered submarines per year [6] - China is projected to have 80 submarines by 2035, raising concerns in Washington about China's investment in R&D and shipyards [6] Revitalization Efforts - A 100,000 square foot training facility in Virginia is part of efforts to boost development and hiring [7] - The training program lasts 16 weeks and aims to address the skilled labor shortage by training individuals for jobs in the submarine industrial base [7]