From USNI News
General Dynamics CEO Phebe Novakovic said GD Electric Boat work on the Columbia-class nuclear ballistic missile submarines and the Virginia-class nuclear attack boat would slow to keep pace with a supply chain that’s lagging construction.
“EB continues to be severely impacted by late deliveries from major component suppliers, which has delayed schedules and is continuing to impact costs,” Novakovic said during GD’s Fiscal Year 2024 third quarter earnings call with investors.
“There is no point hurrying portions of the boat only to have to stop and wait increasingly extended periods of time for major components to arrive. It is neither good for the boat over time nor cost. Given the recent projections from the supply chain on deliveries, we need to get our cadence in sync with the supply chain and take costs out of the business if we are to hope to see incremental margin growth.”
The first boat, District of Columbia (SSBN-826), was originally supposed to deliver in Fiscal Year 2027 for an anticipated first patrol in 2030, but now that delivery is set for FY 2028 at the earliest.
“One of the most significant challenges that we have with Columbia … is actually the late delivery of the turbine generator to Columbia by subcontractor Northrop Grumman,” Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro told the House Appropriations subcommittee on defense in April. “That has had a major impact on the Columbia.” Pictured – Artists rendition of Columbia