HII and GrayMatter Robotics to Advance Shipbuilding with Physical AI

Rhea-AI Summary

HII (NYSE: HII) and GrayMatter Robotics will hold a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony and a physical AI demonstration on Monday, April 6, 2026, at GrayMatter Robotics headquarters in Carson, California.

Media may film live technology demonstrations, cover the MOU signing, and ask questions of HII executive vice president Eric Chewning and GrayMatter CEO Ariyan Kabir. RSVP is required by noon on Friday, April 3; closed-toed shoes are required for safety in the manufacturing environment.

Key Figures

Event date: April 6 Event time window: 2 p.m.–4 p.m. RSVP deadline: noon April 3 +5 more

8 metrics

Event date April 6 Date of GrayMatter Robotics MOU event

Event time window 2 p.m.–4 p.m. Duration of GrayMatter Robotics demonstration

RSVP deadline noon April 3 Media RSVP cutoff for event attendance

Current price $381.79 Pre-news trading level for HII

52-week high $460 Upper end of 52-week trading range

52-week low $177.42 Lower end of 52-week trading range

Market cap $15,151,941,629 Equity value prior to this AI event news

Price vs 52-week high -17% Distance from 52-week high before announcement

Market Reality Check

Price: $381.79 Vol: Volume 372,553 is 0.72x t...

normal vol

$381.79 Last Close

Volume Volume 372,553 is 0.72x the 20-day average of 516,619, indicating subdued trading ahead of this headline. normal

Technical Shares at 381.79 are trading above the 200-day MA of 321.71, while sitting 17% below the 52-week high and well above the 52-week low.

Peers on Argus

Aerospace & Defense peers are generally down, with KTOS in momentum scanners at ...

1 Down

Aerospace & Defense peers are generally down, with KTOS in momentum scanners at -9.94% and others like AVAV, DRS, ERJ, and WWD also negative, but only one peer shows flagged momentum, pointing to stock-specific rather than broad sector drivers.

Previous AI Reports

5 past events · Latest: Feb 17 (Positive)

Same Type Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 17	AI welding MOU	Positive	-0.2%	MOU with Path Robotics to integrate physical AI welding in shipbuilding.
Feb 11	AI demo advisory	Positive	-1.7%	Media advisory for Path Robotics AI demo and MOU signing event.
Nov 03	Autonomy test	Positive	-1.4%	Three-day autonomy test combining Shield AI Hivemind with HII Odyssey on USV.
Sep 10	AI partnership	Positive	+1.8%	Partnership with Shield AI to advance modular cross-domain mission autonomy.
Sep 09	ROMULUS launch	Positive	-1.1%	Unveiling AI-enabled ROMULUS USV family powered by Odyssey autonomy system.

Pattern Detected

AI-related announcements have often seen mildly negative next-day moves despite strategically positive content, with only one of the last five AI-tagged releases aligning positively with its news tone.

Recent Company History

Over the past six months, HII has repeatedly highlighted AI and autonomy initiatives, from unveiling the ROMULUS USV family to partnering with Shield AI and Path Robotics. These AI-tagged releases, including physical AI welding integrations and autonomy tests, produced average next-day moves of about -0.51%. Today’s memorandum of understanding and demonstration with GrayMatter Robotics continues this AI adoption theme in shipbuilding and unmanned systems.

Historical Comparison

-0.5% avg move · In the last five AI‑tagged releases, HII’s average next‑day move was -0.51%, with most AI partnershi...

AI

-0.5%

Average Historical Move AI

In the last five AI‑tagged releases, HII’s average next‑day move was -0.51%, with most AI partnership and product news seeing modest, often negative, reactions.

AI-related news shows a progression from unveiling ROMULUS USVs, to autonomy partnerships with Shield AI, to integrating physical AI welding via Path Robotics, and now expanding physical AI collaborations in shipbuilding.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights HII’s continued emphasis on AI-enabled manufacturing, extending prior a...

Analysis

This announcement highlights HII’s continued emphasis on AI-enabled manufacturing, extending prior autonomy and ROMULUS USV initiatives into physical AI for shipbuilding. The event mirrors earlier AI-tagged collaborations that produced an average next-day move of -0.51%, suggesting historically muted market reactions to similar news. Investors may focus on how such agreements eventually translate into throughput gains, margin impact, and integration across HII’s manned and unmanned programs.

Key Terms

memorandum of understanding

1 terms

memorandum of understanding regulatory

"will host a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony and physical AI demonstration"

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a formal agreement between two or more parties that outlines their shared intentions and plans to work together. It acts like a handshake in writing, clarifying each side’s roles and expectations before any official contract is signed. For investors, an MOU signals that parties are serious about collaboration, which can influence future business opportunities and potential growth.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

ARLINGTON, Va., March 30, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

What: HII (NYSE: HII), America’s largest shipbuilder, and GrayMatter Robotics, a leader in physical AI for manufacturing, will host a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony and physical AI demonstration at GrayMatter’s headquarters Monday, April 6. Media will be able to film Live Technology Demonstrations and cover the signing ceremony, plus ask questions of the two industry leaders below. The event is NOT open to the public, but media are invited to cover it.

Who: Following the ceremony remarks, formal MOU signing and physical AI demonstrations, media will have an opportunity to speak with Eric Chewning, HII executive vice president of maritime systems & corporate strategy, and Ariyan Kabir, GrayMatter Robotics CEO and co-founder.

When: Monday, April 6, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

Where: GrayMatter Robotics HQ   2226 E 223rd St, Carson, California, 90810

Additional Directions: Parking is available at GrayMatter’s headquarters. Please plan to park at signs marked media. Event signage will be posted on-site to guide you to the appropriate parking area.

RSVP: Confirmation of media attendance is required. Please RSVP by noon on Friday, April 3, to Mike Goldstein, Mike@82comms.com or Danny Hernandez, danny.j.hernandez@hii-co.com 202-264-7143. 

Safety and Attire: As this event will take place in an active manufacturing environment, closed-toed shoes are required. 

About HII

HII is America’s largest shipbuilder, delivering the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain mission technologies, including unmanned systems, to U.S. and allied defense customers. HII is the largest producer of unmanned underwater vehicles for the U.S. Navy and the world.

With a more than 140-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII builds and integrates defense capabilities extending from the core fleet to C6ISR, AI/ML, EW and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 44,000 strong. For more information, visit:

• HII on the web: https://www.HII.com/
• HII on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TeamHII
• HII on X: https://www.twitter.com/WeAreHII
• HII on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/WeAreHII
• HII on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wearehii
  

About GrayMatter

Headquartered in Carson, California, GrayMatter Robotics is building Factory SuperIntelligence that powers the autonomous factories of the future. Founded in 2020, the company develops Physical AI technologies and deploys autonomous factories that handle complex, high-mix tool-manipulation applications such as surface preparation, coating, and inspection processes across some of the most demanding production environments in the world — delivering up to 12x the throughput of skilled manual labor and a 95% reduction in rework. Its air-gapped, edge-deployed architecture ensures full data sovereignty for defense and enterprise-critical operations. To date, GrayMatter Robotics has processed over 30 million square feet of surface area across 20+ industries, serving customers in aerospace, defense, shipbuilding, specialty vehicles, and consumer products. The company is on a mission to reindustrialize American manufacturing and bolster our National Security, bridge the gap between demand and capacity of our industrial base, and ensure the industrial resilience the nation depends on. For more information, visit: https://graymatter-robotics.com/

Contact:

Danny Hernandez
Danny.J.Hernandez@HII-co.com
(240) 264-7143

Christina Ko
christina@graymatter-robotics.com
(310) 431-9258

FAQ

What is HII announcing with GrayMatter Robotics on April 6, 2026 (HII)?

They will sign a memorandum of understanding and demonstrate physical AI technology on April 6, 2026. According to HII, the event includes a formal MOU signing, live technology demonstrations, and media Q&A with company leaders at GrayMatter Robotics HQ.

Where and when can media attend the HII and GrayMatter Robotics event (HII)?

The event is scheduled April 6, 2026, 2:00–4:00 p.m. at GrayMatter Robotics HQ in Carson, California. According to HII, media must RSVP by noon on April 3 and follow onsite signage and parking directions for media.

Who from HII will be available for questions at the GrayMatter Robotics event (HII)?

Eric Chewning, HII executive vice president of maritime systems & corporate strategy, will be available for media questions. According to HII, Chewning will participate in remarks, the MOU signing, and the post-demonstration media Q&A session.

How do media RSVP to attend the HII and GrayMatter Robotics demonstration (HII)?

Media must RSVP by noon on Friday, April 3, via email to the contacts provided in the announcement. According to HII, RSVPs should be sent to Mike Goldstein or Danny Hernandez using the listed email addresses and phone contact.

Are there safety or attire requirements for the HII and GrayMatter Robotics site visit (HII)?

Yes, closed-toed shoes are required because the demonstration occurs in an active manufacturing environment. According to HII, event signage and designated media parking will be provided on-site to guide attendees safely.

Can the public attend the HII and GrayMatter Robotics MOU signing and demo on April 6 (HII)?

No, the event is not open to the public; it is open only to invited media who RSVP in advance. According to HII, media attendance requires confirmation by the April 3 RSVP deadline and adherence to onsite rules.