One of the final compromises made during the fiscal year 2017 defense policy bill conference was allotting $85 million in advance procurement funding so that the Navy can maintain a two-per-year build rate of Virginia-class submarines, according to an influential lawmaker. House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee Ranking Member Joe Courtney (D-CT) told Inside the Navy Nov. 30 his top focus during this year's conference was sustaining the Virginia-class attack submarine build rate. "At the end of...
