The Sorry State of America’s Submarine Fleet

The U.S. submarine fleet is in a dire state. The U.S. doesn’t have the domestic infrastructure to repair and sustain its existing subs, much less expand the fleet. America needs to get creative to sustain its undersea advantage. The Navy should procure conventionally powered submarines from U.S. allies, namely Japan and South Korea. The moment is ripe, given the leadership of Rahm Emanuel, the U.S. ambassador to Japan, and a potential breakthrough in Japan-South Korea relations.