Navy’s Submarine Needs Boost Baltimore Jobs, Raises Ownership Concerns

The U.S. Navy is in dire need of more submarines. Baltimore could gain thousands of jobs due to new developments in defense production. However, the decision to make the primary customer—a government entity—a 40 percent owner of this new project, has raised concerns about market discipline.

On October 6, the USS Billings and an Anduril submarine were both on display at an event held at Sparrows Point Shipyard near Baltimore. This event highlighted Anduril’s new submarine facility.

This facility in Baltimore aims to revitalize the defense industrial base by speeding up the production of Virginia-class attack submarines. Yet, the U.S. government did not need to invest in equity for a project where it is the predominant customer.