To watch or download the exchange, click here for part 1 and here for part 2

WASHINGTON, D.C.— U.S. Senator Angus King today questioned the Honorable Carlos Del Toro, the Secretary of the Navy, on the current status of the partnership between Maine employers, like Bath Iron Works (BIW), and the Navy – receiving assurances from the Secretary that stability for the BIW workforce would be maintained. Later in the hearing also asked the Secretary about what the Navy needs to protect America’s deterrence strategy against foreign adversaries using hypersonic missiles.

Senator King began the exchange by asking Secretary Del Toro about the collaboration between shipyards and the Navy for research and development.

“Mr. Secretary, again, the DDG(X) is the next level of surface combatant. In our 2023 National Defense [Authorization] Act, we talked about collaboration. That collaboration is continuing between the shipyards and the Navy. We can't let that falter because first in class ships tend to be very expensive. One way to avoid that, and what I am looking for: is collaboration still a priority for the Navy between the Navy and the shipyards in the design and conceptualization of this new service combatant?” Senator King said.

“Certainly, Senator. Not only is there a priority, but we are actually living it right now,” Del Toro replied. “And as we actually had to shift DDGX to the right a bit, partially because we want to be able to fully develop the technologies and the design of that ship so we get it right – so greater collaboration between industry and the government before we actually go to full production on a fully designed ship is absolutely the right answer.

“Could not agree more. The maturity of design is critical. I would rather move it to the right and not do the R&D and design as it is being built. That’s what we have learned in the past. It does not bode well for the taxpayers or the defense base,” Senator King responded. “Also, we want to make sure there is a smooth transition for the DDG Flight 3 to the DDX. We can’t have a gap, a trough, if you will, because as the Senator from Mississippi knows, you can't turn off and on a workforce, the kind of skilled workforce that is necessary to build these ships. So, I hope that is part of your planning, is a smooth transition between the two classes of ships.”

Secretary Del Toro said, “Absolutely, Senator. Afforded the opportunity to be here another four years, I would be happy to do that.”

Senator King then asked Secretary Del Toro to discuss the looming threat of hypersonic missiles.

“The other technology I think we have missed is hypersonics, particularly defense against hypersonics,” Senator King. “I hope that is an emphasis over your R&D as we go forward. We have got $12 billion aircraft carriers that we don't want to be sitting ducks. We need, we must, develop defensive mechanisms for hypersonics.”

Secretary Del Toro responded, “Very much so, sir. And that encompasses things we do in cyberspace and [satellite] programs, but investment in CPS is also important for us as well too. We address the very difficult challenges that we have had in ship building for decades now. You look at the Zumwalt class destroyer, for example, and overcoming the challenges with the advanced gun system, now trying to put CPS on it is one of my top priorities as well. And hopefully we will have it on the first one in late ’25, and then the second in ’26, and the third one in ’29.

“Well I hope that it’s an urgent priority, not just a priority because the core of our deterrence is our projected seapower, [but] we have to be able to defend it. If we can’t, the deterrent goes away,” Senator King replied.

“We just lifted the first advanced gun system on the Zumwalt just last week, sir,” Secretary Del Toro said. “It’s moving along well.”

Senator King then asked, “Where was the Zumwalt built again?

“[Laughter] Bath, Maine, sir,” Secretary Del Toro said.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator King has championed funding for both Bath Iron Works (BIW) and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY). Last year, he strongly urged Mr. Frederick J. Stefany, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition to prioritize long-term investments in the defense industrial base – including Bath Iron Works—to avoid a ‘trough’ between contracted work, resulting in a likely loss of workers and threatening American national security. In the Senate passed FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act, Senator King secured authorization for the procurement of DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Additionally, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro visits Maine shipyards regularly, at the invitation of Senator King, most recently at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Senator King has also been one of the most outspoken members of Congress about hypersonic weapons – and America not developing the technology as swiftly as China or Russia – calling this new missile “a nightmare weapon” and pushing for more investments from the Defense Department in advancing America’s capabilities.

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