US sub production stalls — AUKUS timeline under pressure

The US conceded in late July 2026 that Virginia-class submarine output hasn't risen. The Congressional Research Service confirms it's been stuck near 1.1–1.2 boats yearly since 2022 — never the two-boat target. Adm. Caudle said in May that target won't be met until the 2030s: precisely when Australia's first Virginia is due. The AUKUS transfer timeline now looks shaky.