admiral greenert? >> today, senator, we have 14 ohio-class submarines. two are in overhaul, so that leaves us with 12 really operationally and with that there are ten or nine available at any given time for strategic command. we feel during this -- due to this delay, we will ride a period where we'll have ten operational, sometimes nine. so, we'll have a similar risk there. we have to watch it very closely, because at that time frame, in that future, we're talking the late '20s and the t '30s, we'll have older ohio so we have to watch it carefully, right now we think we can mitigate that risk. >> and in -- in thinking forward, what assumptions are you making? because, you know, frankly you pointed out with the age of the fleet if you're assuming sort of standard operational availability, that assumption might not be a very good one. so, are you making any heroic assumptions that fill the gap on paper? >> well, being navy, we don't try to be heroic. >> you're heroes. >> but the long-term will be complete on the class at that time, so we were comfortable a

that we will be keeping attack submarines in a 40-60 split, atlantic, pacific, that what admiral greenert testified to a little earlier that it's not just specific that we have the need for attack submarines, it's not just the capacity and the capability of these incredible warships are needed, and i also want to thank the state of connecticut for they've invested about $40 million into the subbase there to upgrade some facilities so that we can maintain that base at the high rate of operational readiness that it is, and that's very much appreciated and it's been very helpful. >> thank you for those comments, and i will say on behalf of the day to day, we are proud to support that subbase. would you agree that with undermine vehicles, that base is only increasing? >> i will agree with that, senator? >> thank you. my time is up, but again, i want to thank all of you for your service and for your very helpful testimony today. thank you. >> thank you, senator blumenthal. senator webb? >> you and i are probably the only people here who would remember this, but i have to say listening to senat

admiral greenert, your budget includes and secretary mabus is a proposed delay of the ssb and x by two years. last year the navy testified that they needed the original schedule to maintain strategic deterrence patrol requirements which begs the question if this postponement is in effect, can you maintain the level of strategic systems patrolling duri t "y" class to the new class? >> today, senator, we have 14 ohio class submarines. two are in overhaul so that leaves with us 12 operational. with that there are ten or nine available at any given time for strategic command. we feel due to this delay we will ride a period where we'll have ten operational. sometimes nine. so we'll have a similar risk there. we have to watch it very closely because at that time frame, in that future. i'm talking about the late '20s and '30s we'll have older ohio. so we have to watch it carefully. but right now we think that we can mitigate that risk. >> and in -- in thinking forward, what assumptions are you making because, you know, frankly you pointed out with the age of the fleet, if you're assuming sort

admiral greenert, in your prepared testimony you have a part that says you refer to the history which shows us that conflict is unlikely to occur in the form of the scenarios for which we traditionally plan and you make reference to the contemporary cases of iran and north korea and then you say in the budget submission, we shifted readiness funds towards sensors and tactical training that can be rapidly fielded to the fleet including demonstrators on prototype. since we're so focused on iran and the threats presented by iran particularly in the maritime context, i wonder if you can tell us in a bit more detail what the navy is asking this committee to authorize for fiscal year '13 that will specifically increase our >> se, senator.efend against any after i took the watch, one week into the job i went to japan, korea and then to bahrain to see my counterparts and sit down and talk to admiral fox and then i subsequently talked to general mattus. i went through the straight of hormuz on the uss stennis and it was a nice, clear day. i have a nice view of the nav navnaval units that come

admiral greenert, admiral lockhart has described the ohio submarine as the base for our force. based on the questions you had with senator read, you said the slipping of the virginia class production will exacerbate the shortfall that we're going to see going forward. i have a couple of questions for you. first of all, let me say that i'm very proud of the maintenance done at the portsmouth naval shipyard and the importance of that work when we think about the role of the virginia class submarine as the backbone of our attack submarine force. but it's my understanding -- i mean, this is obviously a very important issue for us, that the navy was only able to support 61% of the combat and commanders requirements for attack submarine in 2011, is that right? >> that's right. >> so, we're only currently in 2011 when the combat commanders ask for the support of the submarines meeting only 6 out of 10 requests. >> that's right, ma'am. they provide their requested. they're adjudicated within the joint staff and then we get, you know, our distribution of providing worldwide presence. >>