Huntington Ingalls Industries

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) stands as America's largest military shipbuilding company and a premier global defense technologies provider, with operations spanning three major divisions and more than 44,000 employees. The company represents a critical pillar of U.S. national security infrastructure, maintaining a commanding position as the sole designer and builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two providers of nuclear submarines for the United States Navy. With a backlog exceeding $48 billion and annual revenues of $11.5 billion as of 2024, HII's scale and strategic importance are unmatched in the American defense industrial base.

The company operates through three complementary divisions: Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, which builds all U.S. aircraft carriers and major submarine components; Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi, which produces surface combatants and amphibious vessels; and Mission Technologies, which delivers advanced C5ISR, cyber, electronic warfare, unmanned systems, and nuclear environmental services. This integrated structure enables HII to address the full spectrum of naval warfare requirements, from designing next-generation Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers to developing autonomous underwater vehicles and providing sophisticated cyber defense capabilities. Newport News Shipbuilding alone employs approximately 26,000 workers, making it Virginia's largest industrial employer.

HII's work is characterized by extraordinary technical complexity and national security significance. The company performs refueling and complex overhaul operations on Nimitz-class aircraft carriers—four-year vessel renewal programs that involve refueling nuclear reactors and comprehensive modernization. It is currently building multiple Gerald R. Ford-class carriers and constructing critical components for Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines, which will serve as the sea-based leg of America's nuclear deterrent for decades to come. The Ingalls division produces Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers equipped with the Navy's Aegis Combat System, along with amphibious assault ships and national security cutters for the Coast Guard.

Despite facing operational challenges in 2024—including workforce limitations, supply chain disruptions, and delayed contract negotiations that led to a 32% decline in operating income—HII has demonstrated resilience through strategic investments in workforce development and facility expansion. The company raised wages with Navy support, increased recruitment and training efforts, acquired a fabrication facility in South Carolina, and significantly improved employee retention rates. Financial analysts project HII will generate nearly $600 million in free operating cash flow in 2025-2026 as these operational improvements take hold and delayed submarine contracts are finalized.

As global threats intensify and the U.S. Navy expands its fleet, Huntington Ingalls Industries remains positioned at the forefront of American naval power projection. The company's unique capabilities, multi-decade heritage dating back to 1886, and proven ability to deliver the world's most sophisticated naval platforms ensure its continued centrality to U.S. defense strategy and maritime dominance for generations to come.