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Huntington Ingalls Industries

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A U.S. defense company focused on military shipbuilding, nuclear-powered naval platforms, and government technology services.

Last updated August 22, 2026

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Overview

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc., commonly known as HII, is a United States defense company centered on military shipbuilding and government technology services. It was created on March 31, 2011, when Northrop Grumman separated its shipbuilding businesses into an independent publicly traded company. HII inherited two of the most important shipyards in the American naval-industrial base: Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia and Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi. It subsequently broadened its scope through acquisitions and internal expansion into engineering, training, cybersecurity, mission support, unmanned systems, intelligence analysis, and other services for the U.S. government. The company is organized around three principal divisions. Newport News Shipbuilding designs, constructs, refuels, overhauls, repairs, and inactivates nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and participates in the construction of nuclear-powered submarines. It is the sole U.S. designer and builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two American shipyards with the capability to design and build nuclear-powered submarines. Its work includes the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier program, Virginia-class attack submarines, Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines, and refueling and complex overhaul projects for Nimitz-class carriers. Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, produces surface combatants, amphibious warships, and U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutters. Its portfolio includes Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, America-class amphibious assault ships, San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, and Legend-class cutters. Ingalls is also a major manufacturing employer in Mississippi and a significant contributor to the regional maritime and defense economy. Mission Technologies, established as a separate HII division in 2016 and developed from the company’s professional-services capabilities, supports military commands and government agencies with network engineering, software, information technology, cybersecurity, training, modeling and simulation, intelligence, unmanned systems, nuclear operations, and other technical services. Its facilities and personnel operate across the United States and internationally. HII’s name reflects the historical founders associated with its principal shipbuilding operations: Collis Potter Huntington, associated with Newport News Shipbuilding, and Robert Ingersoll Ingalls Sr., founder of Ingalls Shipbuilding. In April 2022, the company adopted HII as its principal branding name. Its business is closely tied to long-cycle U.S. Navy and Coast Guard procurement programs, making it strategically important but also dependent on federal budgets, contract execution, specialized labor, and the continuity of the U.S. naval shipbuilding industrial base.

History

HII was formed on March 31, 2011, through the divestiture of Northrop Grumman’s shipbuilding operations. The new company brought together Newport News Shipbuilding in Virginia, Ingalls Shipbuilding in Mississippi, and the Avondale operation in Louisiana. Its inherited assets gave HII an unusually strong position in U.S. naval construction: Newport News was the country’s sole nuclear aircraft-carrier designer and builder, while Ingalls was a leading producer of surface combatants, amphibious ships, and Coast Guard cutters. Avondale Shipyard was subsequently closed in 2014. The historical roots of the company reach substantially further back than its corporate formation. Newport News Shipbuilding was founded in 1886 and became a central builder and maintainer of U.S. Navy ships, including nuclear-powered carriers and submarines. Ingalls Shipbuilding was established in 1938 by Robert Ingersoll Ingalls Sr. on the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. It initially built commercial vessels and began pursuing U.S. Navy work in the 1950s. HII’s name combines the legacies of Collis Potter Huntington, associated with Newport News, and Robert Ingersoll Ingalls Sr. After the spin-off, HII expanded beyond traditional ship construction. It acquired or integrated businesses including UniversalPegasus International, S.M. Stoller Corporation, Camber Corporation, Novonics, the Columbia Group’s Engineering Solutions division, G2 Inc., Alion Science and Technology, and Fulcrum IT Services. These transactions and related internal development expanded HII’s exposure to technical consulting, professional services, cybersecurity, software, intelligence, training, and mission support. In 2016, HII created a third operating division, originally called Technical Solutions and later renamed Mission Technologies. The division brought together the company’s growing government-services activities and developed a presence in network engineering, command support, modeling and simulation, unmanned systems, information technology, cyber operations, and specialized defense training. Mission Technologies is headquartered in McLean, Virginia, and operates through a distributed network of facilities. Shipbuilding remains the company’s central industrial identity. Newport News has continued work on the Gerald R. Ford class, a new generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers incorporating technologies intended to improve aircraft operations, electrical capacity, and crew efficiency. It also participates with General Dynamics Electric Boat in the Virginia-class submarine program and supplies major modules for the Columbia-class program. In addition, Newport News performs refueling and complex overhaul work on Nimitz-class carriers and provides nuclear-carrier inactivation services. Ingalls has continued to build Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, America-class amphibious assault ships, San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks, and Legend-class National Security Cutters. The yard’s programs support the Navy’s surface fleet and amphibious force as well as the Coast Guard’s high-endurance cutter fleet. HII has also developed unmanned maritime capabilities, including REMUS autonomous underwater vehicles, for defense, research, and commercial applications. In April 2022, the company changed its public branding to HII. The rebrand reflected the breadth of its shipbuilding and mission-technology activities rather than a change in ownership or corporate independence. In October 2024, China announced sanctions against HII and CEO Christopher Kastner in connection with U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. HII continues to operate as a publicly listed U.S. defense contractor whose prospects depend heavily on naval procurement, execution of technically complex contracts, workforce development, and government demand for mission-support capabilities.

  • 2025

    Leadership changes at the shipbuilding divisions

    [4]

    Brian Blanchette became president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, while Kari Wilkinson became president of Newport News Shipbuilding.

  • 2024

    China announces sanctions

    [1]

    China announced sanctions against HII and several U.S. defense-industry individuals over Taiwan-related arms sales.

  • 2022

    Corporate branding changed to HII

    [1]

    The company adopted HII as its principal branding name.

  • 2019

    Ford-class carrier block contract awarded

    [1]

    The U.S. Navy awarded HII a multibillion-dollar block contract covering detailed design and construction of the Enterprise and Doris Miller carriers.

  • 2016

    Third operating division established

    [1]

    HII created Technical Solutions, later renamed Mission Technologies, to consolidate and expand its government-services activities.

  • 2014

    Avondale Shipyard closed

    [1]

    The former Louisiana shipbuilding facility inherited at the spin-off was closed.

  • 2011

    HII established through Northrop Grumman divestiture

    [1]

    Huntington Ingalls Industries became an independent company on March 31 after Northrop Grumman separated its shipbuilding businesses.

  • 1938

    Ingalls Shipbuilding founded

    [1]

    Robert Ingersoll Ingalls Sr. founded Ingalls Shipbuilding on the Pascagoula River in Mississippi.

  • 1886

    Newport News Shipbuilding founded

    [1]

    The historical predecessor of HII’s Newport News operation was established in Virginia and later became a major U.S. Navy shipbuilder.

Products and positioning

A specialized U.S. defense and naval-industrial company combining sole-source nuclear aircraft-carrier capability, major surface-ship production, submarine participation, and government mission-technology services.

  • Nuclear-powered aircraft carriers

    Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers

    Newport News Shipbuilding is the sole U.S. designer and builder of the Gerald R. Ford class. The class introduces a new carrier design with technologies intended to increase electrical power, improve aircraft-launch and recovery operations, and reduce manpower requirements. HII is contracted to build a series of ten ships for the U.S. Navy.

  • Nuclear-powered attack submarines

    Virginia-class submarines

    Newport News constructs Virginia-class attack submarines in partnership with General Dynamics Electric Boat. The boats use advanced stealth, maneuverability, sensors, and weapons systems for post-Cold War mission requirements and can remain submerged for extended periods.

  • Nuclear-powered ballistic-missile submarines

    Columbia-class submarines

    HII supports Electric Boat on the Columbia-class strategic-submarine program by manufacturing major assemblies and modules, including bow, stern, superstructure, auxiliary machinery, and weapons sections. The submarines are intended to replace the Ohio class as a sea-based leg of the U.S. strategic deterrent.

  • Guided-missile destroyers

    Arleigh Burke-class destroyers

    Ingalls Shipbuilding constructs Arleigh Burke-class destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system. The yard produces both established variants and Flight III ships, supporting the Navy’s surface-combatant fleet.

  • Amphibious assault ships · 2014

    America-class amphibious assault ships

    The America class provides large-deck amphibious capability for Marine Corps air-ground task forces and amphibious ready groups. Ingalls delivered USS America and USS Tripoli and has continued construction of subsequent ships in the class.

  • Amphibious transport docks

    San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks

    Ingalls builds San Antonio-class LPDs, which transport Marines, aircraft, landing craft, and equipment and support both combat operations and humanitarian response. HII has delivered ships across the class and received additional construction work for later hulls.

  • Coast Guard cutters

    Legend-class National Security Cutters

    Ingalls builds the U.S. Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutters, designed to replace the older Hamilton-class high-endurance cutters. The ships serve as major long-range platforms for maritime security, law enforcement, and other Coast Guard missions.

  • Unmanned maritime systems

    REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles

    HII develops REMUS autonomous underwater vehicles and related unmanned systems for defense, marine research, surveying, data collection, and commercial applications. The systems can carry sensors and other payloads without a tether.

  • Defense technology and professional services · 2016

    Mission Technologies services

    Mission Technologies provides network engineering, cybersecurity, software and information-technology services, intelligence analysis, modeling and simulation, military training, unmanned-system support, fleet support, and specialized government mission services.

Brand decisions

  • 2023

    Win Joint Network Engineering and Emerging Operations task orderOther

    Background

    Mission Technologies pursued large-scale technical-support work for U.S. government customers.

    Action taken

    The division received the J-NEEO task order to provide network engineering and emerging-operations support.

    Aftermath

    The award became one of Mission Technologies’ largest disclosed contract wins.

    Task-order value. $1.4 billion (August 2023 award)

  • 2022

    Adopt HII brandingStrategy

    Background

    The company operated across shipbuilding and technology-services businesses under a long corporate name.

    Action taken

    Huntington Ingalls Industries changed its branding name to HII.

    Aftermath

    The shorter brand became the company’s principal public-facing identity while its corporate operations continued unchanged.

  • 2019

    Ford-class carrier construction block contractProduct launch

    Background

    The U.S. Navy continued its transition to the Gerald R. Ford class as the next generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

    Action taken

    HII received a block contract covering detailed design and construction of Enterprise and Doris Miller.

    Aftermath

    The award supported the planned continuation of the Ford-class carrier program at Newport News.

    Contract value. $15.2 billion (2019 award)

  • 2016

    Establish Technical Solutions divisionStrategy

    Background

    HII had expanded through acquisitions and internal development into professional and government services.

    Action taken

    The company formed a third division, later renamed Mission Technologies, to organize its technical-services capabilities.

    Aftermath

    HII broadened its business beyond physical shipbuilding into cyber, intelligence, training, software, and mission support.

  • 2011

    Separate shipbuilding operations from Northrop GrummanStrategy

    Background

    Northrop Grumman divested its shipbuilding operations, creating an independent company focused on naval construction and related services.

    Action taken

    Huntington Ingalls Industries began operating as a separate publicly traded defense company on March 31, 2011.

    Aftermath

    The transaction created an independent naval shipbuilding specialist that later expanded into government technology and mission support.

Recent events

  • Reported

    Huntington Ingalls Industries reports quarterly earnings[5]

    Huntington Ingalls Industries reported quarterly earnings of $5.48 per share and revenue of $3.54 billion.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    Mike Petters elected to HII board[6]

    Former HII CEO Mike Petters was elected to the company’s board.

  • Reported

    Huntington Ingalls Industries announces acquisition of Alion[7]

    Huntington Ingalls Industries said it is buying Alion Science and Technology for $1.65 billion. The transaction was expected to close in the second half of the year.

  • Reported

    HII completes acquisition of SIS autonomy business[8]

    Huntington Ingalls Industries acquired Spatial Integrated Systems' autonomy business. The transaction closed on December 31, 2020, and approximately 50 SIS employees joined HII Technical Solutions' Unmanned Systems business group.

  • Unconfirmed

    Reported

    HII completes acquisition of Hydroid[9]

    Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) completed its acquisition of Hydroid Inc.

  • Titan Acquisition Holdings agrees to acquire HII’s San Diego Shipyard[10]

    Titan Acquisition Holdings entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Huntington Ingalls Industries’ San Diego Shipyard. The transaction was subject to customary closing conditions and was expected to close in the second quarter of 2020.

  • Reported

    Titan announces agreement to acquire San Diego Shipyard[11]

    Titan Acquisition Holdings announced that it had reached a deal to acquire San Diego Shipyard from Huntington Ingalls Industries. The transaction was expected to close in the second quarter and was subject to customary closing conditions.

  • HII and Kongsberg Maritime announce strategic alliance[12]

    HII and Kongsberg Maritime announced a strategic alliance to jointly market naval and maritime products and services to the US government market, with potential expansion to global markets.

  • HII agrees to acquire Hydroid[12]

    Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) entered into an agreement to acquire Hydroid, a US-based subsidiary of Kongsberg Maritime. The transaction was subject to regulatory review and customary closing conditions.

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