the US Navy's warship production is in its worst state in 25 years. Why

The U.S. Navy's warship production is currently facing significant challenges, marking its worst state in 25 years. A combination of labor shortages, shifting defense priorities, and design changes has led to production backlogs. The Navy is struggling to hire and retain skilled workers as many experienced veterans retire, leaving a gap in expertise. Shipyards are attempting to address this by creating training programs and offering incentives to retain employees. Despite these efforts, production rates remain low, with some shipyards only able to produce one frigate per year, despite contracts for multiple vessels. The Navy's frequent changes to ship requirements and designs have also contributed to cost overruns and delays, exemplified by the Constellation warship, which is now three years behind schedule. Additionally, the evolving nature of global threats, including competition from China and Russia, complicates the Navy's planning and production efforts. The Navy acknowledges these issues and is working with industry partners to find solutions, but the path to recovery appears challenging.

- U.S. Navy warship production is at its lowest in 25 years due to labor shortages and design changes.

- Shipyards are struggling to hire and retain skilled workers as experienced veterans retire.

- Production rates are low, with some shipyards only able to produce one frigate annually.

- Frequent changes in Navy requirements have led to cost overruns and delays in ship construction.

- The evolving global threat landscape complicates Navy planning and production efforts.