US attack submarine repair delays cost billions

A recent congressional audit has revealed that delays in repairing US Navy attack submarines have cost the service approximately $3.4 billion over the past decade. These delays, which can extend up to four years, have resulted in around 15,000 lost operational days for the fleet of 44 submarines since 2016. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the issue primarily stems from a shortage of dry-dock space in US shipyards, which hinders necessary maintenance work.

This backlog has reduced the availability of attack submarines, a key military asset against China, the nation's main geopolitical rival. The maintenance logjam has exacerbated existing problems, such as delivery delays for newer submarine classes and concerns over vessel conditions. The GAO's assessment also noted that while progress has been made in reducing the submarine maintenance backlog, it has not been eliminated entirely.