They need to start falling at a faster rate all over themselves. We’ve been below 60 on subs since 1999 and in the low 50’s since 2002. We’re down 50% on modern subs from 1987 that’s too deep a cut even with the technology increases. BTW the buil up need isn’t just limited to subs. The rate they are going at now won’t likely even keep pace with the decom rate.
http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/org9-4.htm#1993
60 SSNs is right at replacement rate. Boats last about 30 years and are currently being built at 2 a year. I would say we need no less than 70 boats...there has to be some level of flexibility, for things just like what happened to Miami.
And with China becoming more aggressive, and there’s simply no slack anymore.
Many of the Block I LA class boats were retied early because they were not needed.
The time it takes to build a Block II Virginia class boat is much faster than Block I thanks to construction simplification.
Block I:
USS Virginia (SSN-774) 47 months
USS Texas (SSN-775) 33 months
USS Hawaii (SSN-776) 33 months
USS North Carolina (SSN-777) 35 months
Block II:
USS New Hampshire (SSN-778) 10 months
USS New Mexico (SSN-779) 9 months
USS Missouri (SSN-780) 14 months
USS California (SSN-781) 18 months
USS Mississippi (SSN-782)18 months