Submarines and the Future of Defense Manufacturing

March 26, 2026

Here's something that might surprise you — America’s submarine production needs have skyrocketed over the last decade, and it’s not just about more ships. According to Chris Power from Hadrian and Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, the US now requires over five times the manufacturing capacity it had before. But here’s where it gets really interesting — it's not just about building faster; it’s about rethinking how we make submarines altogether. Content+a16zpodcast@a16z.com highlights that software-driven factories and a fresh workforce are key to closing the gap. So what does this actually mean for our national security? Well, it’s a mix of high-tech innovation and smarter manufacturing. As VADM Gaucher points out, this shift isn’t just a trend — it’s a necessity to stay ahead. And get this — these new approaches could reshape defense manufacturing across industries, not just submarines. So, keep an eye on how software and new skills are transforming big, complex projects. The future’s about agility and innovation, and that’s what’s really exciting.

David Ulevitch speaks with Chris Power, founder and CEO at Hadrian, and Vice Admiral Robert Gaucher, the Pentagon's first direct reporting portfolio manager for submarines, at the opening of Hadrian's Factory Four in Cherokee, Alabama. They discuss the state of America's submarine industrial base, why the Navy now needs more than five times the manufacturing capacity it had a decade ago, and how software-driven factories and a new workforce can close the gap.

Resources:

Follow Chris Power on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/powerc/

Follow VADM Robert Gaucher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertgaucher/

Follow David Ulevitch on X: https://x.com/davidu

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Audio Transcript