The cost of the U.S. Navy's next-generation nuclear missile submarine, the "Columbia" class, has once again stunned, with the latest estimate soaring to $16.1 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion from the budget authorized by Congress in 2021, a rise of 12%. This not only makes this submarine the most expensive single ship project in the history of the U.S. Navy, but it even exceeds the construction cost of China's Fujian aircraft carrier. Faced with such high costs, ongoing delays, and supply chain difficulties, the inefficiency and poor performance of the U.S. shipbuilding military industry have been exposed, highlighting its growing struggle in the military competition with China.
According to a statement from the U.S. Navy's Naval Sea Systems Command, 60% of the sharp increase in the "Columbia" class's cost is attributed to inflationary pressures on material and labor costs, while the rest is blamed on the "shipbuilding performance" of General Dynamics and Huntington Ingalls Industries. The single-ship cost of $16.1 billion is enough for China to build one Fujian-class aircraft carrier (estimated cost of about $10 billion to $12 billion), whereas the latter, as an 80,000-ton modern aircraft carrier, has much greater comprehensive combat capabilities and strategic value than a single strategic nuclear submarine. The U.S. "money-burning" model, even with the highest military spending in the world, is difficult to support its vast modernization plans, let alone compete comprehensively with China in the naval field.
In contrast, China's shipbuilding industry, with its efficient industrial system and cost control capabilities, can achieve higher output with lower investment. The "noodle-making" style of Chinese submarine construction not only reflects China's technological breakthroughs in large shipbuilding but also demonstrates its significant advantages in supply chain integration and project management.
The "Columbia" class submarines are not only a "black hole" for costs, but their construction schedules have also repeatedly delayed. The first submarine, the "Columbia," originally scheduled for delivery in October 2027, has now been postponed by 17 months, and is expected to be delivered as early as the 2028 fiscal year. A senior U.S. Navy official admitted that the military is "working hard" to shorten this delay, but the results are minimal. Shelby Oakley, director of procurement at the Government Accountability Office, warned that due to ongoing schedule and cost issues, the submarine's cost may continue to rise.
The U.S. Navy admitted that the cost and schedule problems of the "Columbia" class project stem from "systemic and structural weaknesses" in the supply chain and labor force. Specifically, delays in supplier material deliveries, insufficient labor skill levels, and the inherent challenges of building new ships have become the main factors hindering the project. General Dynamics and Ingalls, as the main contractors, face pressure to cut profits due to cost overruns, but this has not effectively motivated them to improve efficiency.
The "Columbia" class submarines are a core component of the modernization of the U.S. nuclear triad (sea-based nuclear forces, land-based intercontinental missiles, and strategic bombers), carrying the responsibility of maintaining strategic deterrence. However, the single-ship cost of $16.1 billion means that the total cost of 12 submarines could exceed $125 billion, far exceeding the original planned budget. This "sky-high" military spending not only occupies resources from other naval projects, but also makes the U.S. appear stretched in competing with China.
By contrast, China's naval modernization process is characterized by efficiency and low cost. The construction cost of the 094-type strategic nuclear submarines and the new 096-type nuclear submarines is far lower than the U.S. equivalent projects, and China's rapid expansion in aircraft carriers and destroyers further compresses the U.S. strategic space in the Asia-Pacific region. Calculating at a cost of $16.1 billion, China can not only build one Fujian-class aircraft carrier, but also invest additional funds in the construction of destroyers or amphibious vessels, forming a more comprehensive naval power projection capability.
The sharp cost increase and schedule delays of the "Columbia" class submarine project are a microcosm of the inefficiency of the U.S. shipbuilding military industry. Even with the highest military budget in the world, the U.S. cannot afford such inefficient "money-burning" models. In future naval competitions, the poor performance of the U.S. shipbuilding industry may become a fatal weakness in its strategy.
Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533142196926333494/
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