02.02.2023, 14:35
Zitat:GAO: Delivery of First Columbia-Class SSBN Could Be Latehttps://maritime-executive.com/article/g...ld-be-late
The U.S Navy's ambition to deliver the first Columbia class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine in record time could fall short, thanks in part to a lack of schedule risk analysis, according to a new report. As the Navy implements the largest and most complex submarine project in its history, the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO) is now warning that lack of a schedule risk analysis could impede the success of the project, whose costs have already gone up by an addition $4 billion from the $128 billion estimated in 2019.
Failure to deliver the submarines on time could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s defense, considering that the Columbia-class submarines are expected to replace the 14 current Ohio class nuclear-powered submarines that are nearing the end of their service lives, with retirement planned to begin in 2027.
To prevent a gap, the lead Columbia class submarine needs to be ready for its first patrol before October 2030. The Navy has set a target of April 2027 to deliver first-in-class USS Columbia. The target is a record time considering it took 88 months to deliver the first Ohio class nuclear-powered submarine, but the Navy plans for Columbia to be delivered 10 months faster. [...]
The Columbia-class project is already encountering headwinds. After more than a year of full-scale construction on the lead Columbia submarine, the shipbuilders are facing delays because of challenges with design, materials and quality.
Two U.S. shipbuilders, General Dynamics Electric Boat (Electric Boat) and Huntington Ingalls Industries Newport News Shipbuilding (Newport News), were awarded the contracts for the design and construction of the submarines. Electric Boat is the prime contractor for design and construction with Newport News serving as its major subcontractor. [...] GAO reckons the delivery timeline for USS Columbia might not be achieved because Electric Boat has not conducted a schedule risk analysis, a critical tool for understanding program risks and managing risks that could impact the schedule. Electric Boat is already deploying extensive measures to tackle emerging challenges. Since the Columbia-class subs are essential for strategic deterrence, they are giving it priority status over most national-defense-related programs, including the Virginia class program.
Schneemann