U.S. Navy Chief: Shipbuilding Industry Should Look to the Future

U.S. Navy Secretary Donald Winter has told the American shipbuilding industry to focus on long-term national interests. According to UPI, Winter urged industry executives to get beyond its short-term focus on its earnings. In a speech at the Navy League's annual forum, Winter used terms such as "storm clouds on the horizon" and warned that the relationship between the Navy and industry was "fraying" in urging the industry to make fundamental changes to help the Navy meet its challenge of expanding its fleet with limited funds. Winter said he was not suggesting that the industry needs to reduce the number of shipbuilders to match the relatively few ships the plan suggested will be built each year. Winter noted the Navy's recently released 30-year shipbuilding plan that promises to build the fleet up to 313 ships from the current 281 needs a better alignment between the industry and the Navy. Winter said the defense industry was increasingly focused on "short-term financial goals" that prevented a long-range strategy to provide what the Navy and the nation may need. (Source: UPI)