Navy looks to private contractors for more submarine maintenance

The Navy could enlist private shipyards to help relieve a maintenance backlog for its attack submarines, which translates into a potential opportunity for Newport News Shipbuilding.

Federal budget cuts have caused staffing shortages at U.S. shipyards, according to Vice Adm. Michael Connor, commander of the Navy's submarine force, who spoke with the Associated Press. Submarine overhauls have gone from 19 months to 28 months.

"That has a significant impact on the force," Connor said in an AP interview.

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