Dave VanEpps’ Post

There's a powerful concept in engineering that resonates with the urban legend of a Naval vessel facing a potential collision at sea. In this story, the Naval vessel demands that the other vessel give way, only to hear the response, "We're a lighthouse. It's your call." We call this Lighthouse Courage. This courage, rooted in confidence and conviction in robust data and expert judgment, empowers engineers to make a difference when it matters most. At Exceptional Difference, we understand the value of data that is not just useful but also used responsibly. It's this blend of data and judgment that elevates engineers to new heights of impact and value. https://lnkd.in/esZ9_Xhu

Steven Willis from Center for Maritime Strategy has a piece up on reforming NAVSEA/naval ship acquisition. There are several good ideas, but on commercial and parent hull practice, I think we need to go further. https://lnkd.in/egrc74XQ I don't think the Navy can copy MARAD's NSMV program to make its shipbuilding more efficient. I wrote about this during the summer; the commercial and naval knowledge structures are very different. We've not invested in our naval knowledge structures. There is no shortcut to rebuilding them now. Parent hulls are another hot topic- building the FREMM while complying with U.S. law would always require extensive re-design. Parent hulls are very difficult to use in many situations. More reading below for those interested. https://lnkd.in/e5msMiAN https://lnkd.in/ev3MVxsD

CNO comment #SAS2024 “Invest in the workforce. Invest in, alongside our industry partners, in the infrastructure necessary to really set the conditions to speed up the production and the throughput of the ships and submarines.” Sounds like another call for establishing the Naval Maintenance Vocational Consortium (NMVC) to me.

Today in Asia Times, I wrote about the US Navy's "Project 33," a strategic initiative to counter China's growing naval power by 2027. The plan focuses on enhancing naval readiness, integrating AI, robotics, and autonomous systems, and addressing ship maintenance and recruitment challenges. Despite this, the US still faces shipbuilding capacity issues, creating a vulnerability against China's rapidly expanding navy. The article highlights the gap between US and Chinese naval shipbuilding, with China's shipyards significantly outpacing the US. The US is exploring technology-driven solutions, such as autonomous systems and multi-domain operations, to mitigate this. However, outdated kill chains and reliance on legacy vessels could expose weaknesses in a potential conflict.

“The design for the Constellation-class frigates is based off the FREMM parent design that is in service with the Italian and French navies, but Naval Sea Systems Command has altered the drawings to meet U.S. Navy standards. While the design at one point shared 85 percent commonality with the FREMM, it’s not (sic) closer to 15 percent, USNI News understands.” DOD Acquisition needs a more robust and dynamic way to manage requirements. True Digital Engineering would help. https://lnkd.in/etnNx9rp

Another must-read from the Congressional Research Service for defense planners… We are a Maritime Nation…we need to generate the elevated, predictable, sustained Congressional funding necessary to reinvigorate the shipbuilding industrial base…we must produce the modernized naval capabilities and capacities that our country very much needs…

The two most significant causes of warship cost and schedule creep for new ships are: - Overspecification. I warned when the Constellation frigate contract was awarded that there was no way a foreign ship could meet U.S. Navy specifications and most of the ship would be changed. - Inadequate skilled labor pool. In too many cases, the skilled labor pool is the limiting factor in warship construction. Increasing the budget may increase that capacity in the long term, but not before 2027 when the CNO says the Navy needs to be ready for conflict with China. This is why the Navy is extending the lives of its cruisers and destroyers. Even if more warships could be built, we don’t have enough the Sailors to man the warships we already have. One possibility to help in the short term is to build large numbers of “autonomous magazine extenders (AME). These are small unmanned expendable vessels built to commercial standards by commercial shipyards that are not currently building warships. A large number of these AME’s would be under the control and steaming with a destroyer or cruiser. These AME’s would carry VLS cells and their missiles would be fired first in combat. When empty, they would transit to port for reloading and then return to the fight. This avoids the need to reload VLS at sea. This concept disperses weapons while reducing the cost per VLS cell, eliminates the need to rearm at sea, eliminates the need for more Sailors, and reduces the risk to the Sailors we have.

https://lnkd.in/e2tBJtYY The incoming Trump administration can make a good start with naval issues by organizing a bottom up review of Naval Sea Systems command to build warships on time and on budget.

Naval Base San Diego is squeezed for space. The US Navy is adapting to new commands and a surge of contractors. This adjustment is not just a logistical issue; it's a potential threat to operational effectiveness. Here’s why: 1. Overcrowding can strain maintenance capabilities.  2. Training activities may face serious disruptions.  3. Support services could be hindered, impacting mission readiness. The rising operational demands highlight an urgent need for innovative thinking. Military leaders, contractors, and all stakeholders must engage in meaningful dialogue. This can unveil practical solutions that optimize space and resources at the base. We need to advocate for strategic planning and infrastructure investments at Naval Base San Diego. Our service members deserve facilities that bolster their capabilities, not hinder them. Looking ahead, we must consider approaches like: → Modular facilities  → Improved logistics management These proactive measures can ease current pressures and prepare us for future challenges. The defense community's voice is essential. Share your thoughts and experiences related to space optimization in military settings. #NavalBaseSanDiego #MilitaryOperations #SpaceConstraints #DefenseIndustry #Leadership #Collaboration #Contractors #NavalCommands #MissionReadiness #Infrastructure #Innovation #MilitaryCommunity

The US Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Maritime Administration (MARAD) are exploring various options to accelerate ship production. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti emphasized the need to invest in the industrial base, workforce, and infrastructure to increase shipbuilding capacity. The Coast Guard is seeking reliable access to ship construction and repair capacity, including considering the purchase of commercially available icebreakers. The Maritime Administration is implementing innovative vessel construction management strategies to stay on budget and on schedule. These efforts aim to address challenges such as workforce recruitment and material lead times. #Navy #CoastGuard #Shipbuilding #IndustrialBase #DefenseNews #ShipProduction #InfrastructureInvestment #CoastGuardAcquisition #MaritimeAdministration #ShipbuildingChallenges