GROTON, Conn. (AP) – The U.S. Navy’s top uniformed officer said Tuesday he favors building more submarines, a move sought by Connecticut officials after the national base closure commission voted to keep the submarine base here open.

Adm. Michael Mullen, who was appointed chief of naval operations in July, said he doesn’t believe production can be stepped up for about seven years.

“We need to go to two submarines a year,” Mullen said after speaking to sailors at the base. “On the other hand, the cost of them has to come down.”

The Navy builds one submarine a year or fewer. Electric Boat, which builds submarines in Groton, has said the Navy needs to increase production to two a year to keep pace with the old submarines that go out of service.

Mullen spoke just weeks after the Base Closure and Realignment Commission voted to remove the 137-year-old Submarine Base New London from its closure list.

While supporters of undersea warfare cheered the decision to keep the base open, the submarine fleet’s future remains uncertain. Navy shipbuilding projections show it dwindling from 54 subs into the 30s.

Hundreds of sailors in blue work uniforms leaped to their feet as Mullen entered the room for his first address at the Connecticut base since he became chief.

Mullen told the submariners that the Navy is changing. He said he wants to increase diversity and step up the Navy’s participation in joint operations with other military branches by putting more of his top officers in combat and command assignments.

The Navy is also sending more sailors on missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, he said, noting that ground troops need relief. He said his biggest challenge is developing a Navy for the future.

“My message to you is it’s difficult to predict what will happen next,” Mullen said.

The Navy also is evaluating a new uniform and creating a more strictly enforced physical fitness test. Unlike the past, repeated failures will lead to discharge, Navy officials said.

Mullen also praised the work of sailors in responding to Hurricane Katrina. About 15,000 sailors and Navy civilians were affected the hurricane, he said.

AP-ES-09-13-05 1654EDT