Washington Times Event to Examine U.S. Naval Shipbuilding and Unmanned Systems

The Washington Times Threat Status team will host a forum Wednesday at the U.S. Navy Memorial focused on U.S. naval modernization, shipbuilding capacity, and unmanned maritime systems. The event, titled “IndoPac 2026 | Naval Dominance: Shipbuilding, Autonomy & C2,” will feature panel discussions and fireside chats with military officials, lawmakers, and defense industry leaders.

Purdue University is listed as the official education partner.

The Trump administration has proposed $65.8 billion in the fiscal 2027 budget for new Navy vessels and modifications to existing ships. The Navy’s annual shipbuilding budget is projected to exceed $60 billion in four of the next five years, according to data from Obviant, the event’s data partner.

Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines account for the largest projected expenditures through 2031, with $66 billion allocated for 10 Virginia-class boats and $64 billion for five Columbia-class boats.

The Pentagon is requesting $54.6 billion for its Defense Autonomous Warfare Group. Funding for medium unmanned surface vessels would rise 584 percent to $270 million, while funding for a torpedo-tube-launched remotely operated vehicle would increase 183 percent to $76 million.

The Navy plans to deploy more than 30 medium unmanned surface vessels and thousands of smaller unmanned surface vessels in the Indo-Pacific by 2030.

A bipartisan bill introduced last year, the Shipbuilding and Harbor Infrastructure for Prosperity and Security Act, would provide tax credits and set a goal of adding 250 U.S.-flagged commercial vessels over 10 years. Sen. Todd Young, Indiana Republican, co-sponsored the measure and is scheduled to appear at the event.