Sen. Angus King Questions Navy Nominees on Hypersonics, Drones, and Directed Energy

Navy Ship Availability and Maintenance

• 💡 Senator King highlighted the low operational availability of Navy ships, averaging 60%, compared to commercial cruise lines at 91%.
• 🎯 He urged the nominees to prioritize maintenance and availability as critical issues, challenging them to benchmark against commercial standards.
• ⚓ The U.S. is a maritime nation with a declining fleet, including fewer than 300 ships, necessitating a stronger Navy to ensure freedom of the seas.

Technological Advancement and Defense

• 🚀 Adaptation of new technology is crucial for winning wars, citing historical examples like the stirrup and the long bow.
• ⚠️ Concerns were raised about the slow adoption of drones, hypersonics, and directed energy technologies.
• ⚡ Directed energy is particularly important in the age of drones, offering a cost-effective solution (approx. 75 cents per shot) compared to current missile costs (approx. $4 million per shot) for downing drones.

Industrial Base and Workforce

• 🛠️ Rebuilding the industrial base is a hidden but critical issue for logistics, acquisition, and technology.
• 🧑‍🏭 The current limited workforce hinders the growth and support capabilities of the industrial base.
• 📈 Nominees emphasized the need to understand critical gaps in the industrial base, mapping it from raw materials to the factory floor.

Demand Signals and Contracting

• 🤝 A steady demand signal, such as multi-year contracting, is essential for private sector contractors to make necessary investments.
• 💰 This steady demand ensures business continuity and can lead to cost savings for taxpayers, particularly in the munition space.