Maintenance backlogs pose the greatest challenge to submarine fleet readiness, according to a senior Navy official, who today said the service is on track to reach an 80% operational availability rate for its attack submarines by late 2027 or early 2028. Speaking at a House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee hearing , Naval Submarine Forces Commander Vice Adm. William Houston said the Navy has already improved operational availability from a rate of 60% to 66% within the past...
