# How the Pentagon Is Buying Submarines Like a Shipbuilding Startup

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-defense-tech-podcast-with-fexingo-government-contracting-aerospace-and-military-tech-7871833/how-the-pentagon-is-buying-submarines-like-a-shipbuilding-startup
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-defense-tech-podcast-with-fexingo-government-contracting-aerospace-and-military-tech-7871833/how-the-pentagon-is-buying-submarines-like-a-shipbuilding-startup.md
Podcast: [The Defense Tech Podcast with Fexingo: Government Contracting, Aerospace, and Military Tech](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-defense-tech-podcast-with-fexingo-government-contracting-aerospace-and-military-tech-7871833)
Published: 2026-07-13T21:08:30+00:00
Episode link: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/the-defense-tech-podcast/episode-0109.mp3
Audio file: https://audio.fexingo.com/business/the-defense-tech-podcast/episode-0109.mp3
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Duration seconds: 440

## Resource

The Pentagon's submarine procurement faces a 30-year, $3 trillion bill for the Columbia-class and Virginia-class programs. Lucas and Luna dig into why the traditional cost-plus contracting model is breaking — and how the Navy is borrowing tactics from startups: fast prototyping, modular construction, and fixed-price incentives. They use HII's recent 8.5% margin squeeze and the Pentagon's new Shipbuilding Sustainment initiative as a lens. Plus: a quick honest moment about how this ad-free podcast stays funded. #Pentagon #SubmarineProcurement #ColumbiaClass #VirginiaClass #HII #Shipbuilding #DefenseTech #CostPlus #FixedPrice #Navy #ModuleConstruction #StartupTactics #Business #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Defense #ProcurementReform Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo

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## Transcript

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