Company Description
Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) is a global, all-domain defense provider and the nation’s largest military shipbuilder. With a history of more than 135 years advancing U.S. national security, the company focuses on delivering what it describes as the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation. HII’s capabilities extend from complex shipbuilding to unmanned systems, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML), and synthetic training. The company is headquartered in Virginia and its common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HII.
HII operates through major shipbuilding divisions and its Mission Technologies division. Its shipyards, including Ingalls Shipbuilding and Newport News Shipbuilding, design, build and modernize surface combatants, amphibious assault ships and nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy and other government customers. Ingalls Shipbuilding has delivered numerous Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers and supports programs such as the America-class amphibious assault ship and future small surface combatant (SSC) platform. Newport News Shipbuilding designs and builds Virginia-class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines and supports work on Columbia-class submarines and aircraft carriers.
Core shipbuilding and maritime programs
At Ingalls Shipbuilding, HII has delivered multiple Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, including Flight III ships such as USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125) and Ted Stevens (DDG 128). Ingalls is also engaged in the design and construction of the Navy’s future small surface combatant, leveraging the proven design of the Legend-class national security cutter. The division is involved in building three classes of ships in parallel: DDG 51 Flight III destroyers, LHA amphibious assault ships, and LPD Flight II amphibious transport docks, as well as modernizing Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyers with technology upgrades.
Newport News Shipbuilding designs and builds nuclear-powered submarines for the U.S. Navy, including Virginia-class fast attack submarines such as Oklahoma (SSN 802) and Barb (SSN 804). The yard supports serial-module production for Columbia- and Virginia-class submarines and conducts mid-life overhauls of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers such as USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Newport News also works on aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), which HII describes as being on track to become a highly capable carrier upon delivery to the Navy.
Mission Technologies and all-domain solutions
HII’s Mission Technologies division extends the company’s reach beyond traditional shipbuilding into advanced defense technologies. The division supports U.S. and allied customers with capabilities in unmanned systems, cyber operations, ISR, AI/ML, synthetic training, and C5ISR-related activities. Mission Technologies has been awarded work under the Missile Defense Agency’s Scalable Homeland Innovative Enterprise Layered Defense (SHIELD) contract vehicle, opening opportunities in directed energy, command and control system integration, data and cyber operations, microelectronics, spectrum management, live/virtual/constructive training environments, logistics and sustainment.
Mission Technologies also develops and fields autonomous platforms and autonomy software. The company describes itself as the world’s leading manufacturer of autonomous underwater unmanned vehicles through its REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), and a leading manufacturer of autonomous surface and underwater unmanned vehicles more broadly. These systems support missions for U.S. and allied navies, defense customers, commercial operators and research organizations.
REMUS unmanned underwater vehicles
HII’s REMUS UUV family is one of the most widely deployed autonomous underwater vehicle lines in the world, with systems used by more than 30 navies, including 14 NATO members. REMUS vehicles are used for missions such as mine countermeasures, undersea survey, intelligence collection, environmental sensing, seabed mapping, reconnaissance and underwater survey. The REMUS line includes multiple variants designed for different operating depths and mission sets, with numbering that reflects operational depth and generation.
REMUS vehicles feature a modular, open-architecture design that supports rapid integration of new payloads, mission-specific configurations and future upgrades. This design approach is intended to help operators keep pace with evolving challenges and requirements while managing lifecycle costs. HII reports that more than 90% of REMUS units delivered over more than two decades remain in service, underscoring durability and long-term value. REMUS systems have been employed in defense, search and recovery, and scientific and environmental missions, including high-profile search, post-disaster response and oceanographic research applications.
ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels and autonomy
Complementing REMUS, HII is developing the ROMULUS family of unmanned surface vessels (USVs). ROMULUS platforms are described as modular, AI-enabled USVs powered by HII’s Odyssey Autonomous Control System (ACS). They are designed for high-endurance, open-ocean autonomy, with an emphasis on lethality, cost efficiency and scalability. ROMULUS USVs support missions including ISR, counter-unmanned air systems, mine countermeasures, strike operations, and launch and recovery of UUVs and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
ROMULUS is built around the Odyssey ACS, an autonomy suite used across dozens of USV platforms and hundreds of REMUS UUVs in numerous countries. Odyssey enables sustained open-ocean autonomy, multi-agent swarming, modular payload integration and manned-unmanned teaming. The ROMULUS program incorporates capabilities from partners such as Shield AI, Applied Intuition and C3 AI to enhance autonomous performance and lifecycle sustainment. HII is advancing ROMULUS through prototype construction and testing, with sea trials scheduled according to program milestones.
Global footprint and partnerships
HII’s operations extend beyond its U.S. shipyards. The company has expanded its unmanned operations in Europe with an enlarged facility in Portchester, United Kingdom, which serves as a regional hub for Mission Technologies. This facility supports the U.K. Royal Navy and European partners that operate REMUS UUVs, and provides operational, technical and logistics support for electronic warfare and C5ISR systems, fleet modernization, artificial intelligence capabilities and live, virtual and constructive training. It also prepares the region for deployment and sustainment of the ROMULUS USV family.
HII participates in international defense partnerships such as the AUKUS framework among Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Through its Newport News Shipbuilding division and Mission Technologies Global Security team, HII supports efforts to develop Australia’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability and related advanced technologies. The company is a founding member of the AUKUS Workforce Alliance and was awarded work under the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot program, aimed at integrating Australian suppliers into the U.S. submarine industrial base.
Industrial base, workforce and capacity
HII reports a workforce of approximately 44,000 employees and notes that it is the largest industrial employer in Virginia and Mississippi. The company emphasizes investments of more than $1 billion in infrastructure, facilities and advanced toolsets at Ingalls Shipbuilding, aimed at supporting next-generation systems and platforms. These investments include advanced manufacturing technologies, distributed shipbuilding initiatives with numerous outsourcing partners and collaborations with international manufacturers to expand capacity, including evaluation of additional shipyard capacity in the United States.
To increase shipbuilding throughput and meet heightened demand for ships, HII has engaged in distributed shipbuilding by partnering with multiple shipyards and fabricators beyond its traditional labor markets. The company has also adjusted work practices and shifts at its shipyards to support extended work weeks and improved schedule adherence. Across its facilities, HII highlights efforts to grow hiring, improve retention and raise proficiency levels to support performance on complex shipbuilding and modernization programs.
Role in U.S. national security
Across its shipbuilding and Mission Technologies activities, HII positions itself as a key contributor to U.S. and allied maritime power. As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder and a major producer of unmanned underwater vehicles, HII’s programs support U.S. Navy surface combatants, amphibious forces, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers, as well as advanced unmanned and autonomous systems. The company’s stated mission is to create an advantage for its customers to protect peace and freedom around the world through the delivery of ships and all-domain defense solutions.
FAQs about Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII)
- What does Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. do?
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider and the nation’s largest military shipbuilder. It designs, builds and modernizes surface combatants, amphibious ships, nuclear-powered submarines and aircraft carriers, and develops unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training capabilities for U.S. and allied defense customers.
- Where is HII headquartered?
HII states that it is headquartered in Virginia, reflecting its long-standing presence in that state through operations such as Newport News Shipbuilding.
- What are HII’s main business divisions?
HII’s operations include major shipbuilding divisions, such as Ingalls Shipbuilding and Newport News Shipbuilding, and the Mission Technologies division, which focuses on unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML, synthetic training and related defense technologies.
- What is the REMUS unmanned underwater vehicle family?
REMUS is HII’s family of autonomous unmanned underwater vehicles used by more than 30 navies, including 14 NATO members, and by commercial and research organizations. These vehicles support missions such as mine countermeasures, undersea survey, intelligence collection, environmental sensing and seabed mapping, and feature modular, open-architecture designs.
- What is the ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel program?
ROMULUS is HII’s modular, AI-enabled family of unmanned surface vessels powered by the Odyssey Autonomous Control System. ROMULUS platforms are designed for high-endurance, open-ocean autonomy and support missions including ISR, counter-unmanned air systems, mine countermeasures, strike, and launch and recovery of UUVs and UAVs.
- How does HII participate in missile defense programs?
HII’s Mission Technologies division has been awarded work under the Missile Defense Agency’s SHIELD contract vehicle, which allows it to compete for tasks in areas such as directed energy, command and control system integration, data and cyber operations, microelectronics, spectrum management, live/virtual/constructive training, logistics and sustainment.
- What role does HII play in the AUKUS partnership?
HII supports the AUKUS partnership by contributing its nuclear-powered submarine experience, supply chain management and workforce development expertise. It is a founding member of the AUKUS Workforce Alliance and participates in the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification pilot program to help integrate Australian suppliers into the U.S. submarine industrial base.
- How is HII expanding its unmanned operations in Europe?
HII has expanded its unmanned facility in Portchester, United Kingdom, which serves as a European hub for Mission Technologies. The site supports REMUS UUV operators, prepares for ROMULUS USV deployment, and provides operational, technical and logistics support for electronic warfare, C5ISR systems, fleet modernization, AI capabilities and live, virtual and constructive training.
- What is HII’s relationship with the U.S. Navy?
HII builds and modernizes a range of ships for the U.S. Navy, including Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, amphibious assault ships, amphibious transport docks, Zumwalt-class destroyers, Virginia-class submarines and aircraft carriers. Senior Navy and Marine Corps leaders regularly visit HII’s shipyards to review programs and discuss long-term fleet requirements.
- On which exchange does HII stock trade and what is its ticker symbol?
HII’s common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol HII.