Gibbs & Cox

What Gibbs & Cox does

Gibbs & Cox is the largest independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm in the United States, founded in 1929 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. Since May 2021 it has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), with its maritime systems division combined into the entity. The firm provides end-to-end ship design services, spanning concept development, hull and structural engineering, marine and electrical engineering, production design, program management, survivability analysis (including Full Ship Shock Trials), 3D laser scanning, and lifecycle support. It maintains a specialized Marine Autonomy practice delivering Modular Open System Architecture solutions and HM&E intelligent fault management, exemplified by the DARPA NOMARS USX-1 Defiant unmanned surface vessel developed with Serco North America and Vigor Works. Its 251-500 employee base is distributed across U.S. offices (Arlington, Washington DC, New York, Philadelphia, Newport News, Chesapeake, New Orleans, Bath, Houston), plus Halifax (Canada) and a wholly-owned Australian subsidiary (Canberra) supporting Royal Australian Navy programs.

The business model is professional services for government and commercial clients. Revenue is generated through direct contracts with the U.S. Navy and federal agencies (including a March 2022 Surface Combatant Ship Design Engineering award with a potential value of $318,742,913 through 2027), Foreign Military Sales programs across 40+ countries, and design-agent partnerships with major shipbuilders such as Bath Iron Works, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Fincantieri, and Hanwha Ocean. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales into defense procurement channels supplemented by channel partnerships with prime contractors. Customer mix is dominated by U.S. federal defense, with secondary segments in international navies, shipyards (on-site production liaison), commercial and patrol vessels, and high-performance recreational craft via the DLBA Naval Architects division. The firm is ISO 9001:2015 certified and holds facility security clearances, with current programs spanning DDG(X), the Trump class battleship, FFG(X) Constellation-class frigates, and USV autonomy for DARPA.

Name

Gibbs & Cox

Legal name

Gibbs & Cox, Inc.

Website

https://gibbscox.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Gibbs & Cox is the largest U.S. independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm, providing ship design, survivability analysis, and marine autonomy services to the U.S. Navy, international navies, and commercial clients as a Leidos subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Naval Architecture Services

NAICS

Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Project Management & Owner’s Engineering / Technical Consultancy (Spec Writing, Bid Support, Site Support) (IMAJAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Production Design & Detailed Engineering (3D CAD, Drawings, BOM, Nesting) (IMAJAGAK), Surface Combatants (Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes) (IMAJABAA), Naval Shipbuilding Program Management & Defense Contracting Support (IMAJABAO)

Keywords

• Naval architecture services
• Marine engineering design
• Ship design services
• Military vessel design
• Marine autonomy systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Engineering Services Contracts: Gibbs & Cox generates revenue primarily through professional services contracts with the U.S. Navy, U.S. Government agencies, and international navies. These contracts provide design engineering, program management, and technical services. Revenue is project-based with contract values ranging from individual task orders to multi-yearIDIQ contracts.
2. Surface Combatant Ship Design Engineering: Contract awarded in March 2022 with potential value of $318,742,913 with performance through 2027 if all options exercised. Provides Surface Combatant Ship Design Engineering Services in support of Future Surface Combatant Programs including DDG(X) Program Office.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Gibbs & Cox is the largest independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm in the United States, providing comprehensive ship design services spanning from concept development through production and in-service support. Services include hull design, structural and electrical engineering, production design, program management, survivability analysis, marine autonomy, and cybersecurity for naval combatants, commercial vessels, and recreational craft. The firm serves as a design agent for prime defense contractors and provides on-site liaison staff at shipyards worldwide.

Product overview

Gibbs & Cox is the largest independent naval architecture and marine engineering firm in the United States, providing comprehensive ship design services from concept through production and in-service support. The core offering consists of Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Services supplemented by specialized divisions and modules including DLBA Naval Architects (high-performance marine craft), Marine Autonomy Solutions (USV design and autonomous systems), Cybersecurity Services, Research & Development, 3D Scanning Services, and Survivability Analysis. The company also provides Production Design services that integrate 3D CAD models with construction documentation. These products work together as an integrated suite: the core naval architecture services form the foundation, while specialized modules address specific needs like autonomy, cybersecurity, and survivability that can be added based on client requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gibbs & Cox: Primary brand for naval architecture and marine engineering services
• DLBA Naval Architects
• Gibbs & Cox Australia (GCA)

Products and services

• Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering Services Comprehensive ship design and engineering services spanning from concept development through production and in-service support. Includes hull design, structural engineering, electrical engineering, production design, and program management for naval combatants, commercial vessels, and recreational craft.
• DLBA Naval Architects Operating division of Gibbs & Cox specializing in high-performance marine craft design and engineering for motor yachts, custom sport fishing boats, production recreational craft, and commercial vessels. Provides cradle to grave support with over 1,200 projects completed.
• Marine Autonomy Solutions Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) design and integration services including Modular Open System Architecture (MOSA) approach, HM&E autonomy systems, intelligent fault management, and integration with third-party AI for maneuver, perception, and mission systems.
• Cybersecurity Services Cybersecurity services protecting maritime information systems and shipboard industrial control systems (ICS) from threats. Includes RMF guidance, CMMC compliance, supply chain risk management, systems security engineering, and NIST standards implementation.
• 3D Scanning Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000 vessels built to Gibbs & Cox designs
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Hanwha OceancoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2026Hanwha Ocean signed a memorandum of understanding with Leidos Gibbs & Cox at the Sea Air Space 2026 exhibition in Maryland to expand into the U.S. warship market. The partnership covers designing vessels for U.S. Navy specifications, jointly developing next-generation naval ships, establishing a cross-border supply chain, and creating ship designs optimized for manufacturing and maintenance.
• Bath Iron WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Bath Iron Works is one of the companies designing the Trump class battleships along with Huntington Ingalls Industries and Gibbs & Cox. Construction scheduled to begin in early 2030s.
• Huntington Ingalls IndustriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Huntington Ingalls Industries is one of the companies designing the Trump class battleships along with Bath Iron Works and Gibbs & Cox. Construction scheduled to begin in early 2030s.
• Serco North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Serco North America and Gibbs & Cox/Vigor Works developed the USX-1 Defiant, an unmanned surface vehicle under DARPA's No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) program. The ~55-meter, 240-metric-ton vessel is designed to operate autonomously for up to a year without a crew.
• Vigor WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Vigor Works partnered with Gibbs & Cox and Serco North America to build the USX-1 Defiant USV under DARPA's NOMARS program. The ~55-meter, 240-metric-ton vessel is designed to operate autonomously for up to a year without a crew.
• LeidoscoreOthers · 7 May 2021On May 7, 2021, Leidos Holding, Inc. announced the completed acquisition of Gibbs & Cox, Inc. G&C now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary and has combined with Leidos' maritime systems division. Leidos is a Fortune 500 information technology, engineering, and science solutions leader.
• FincantiericoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020G&C teamed with Fincantieri to design the FFG(X) next-generation frigate. As part of the Fincantieri Team, Gibbs & Cox serves as the design agent on the program and builds upon their long-standing partnership with the shipyard.
• Donald L. Blount and Associates (DLBA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015In December 2015, Gibbs and Cox acquired Donald L. Blount and Associates (DLBA), a renowned naval architecture and naval engineering firm. DLBA specializes in full design, construction management, testing and service life support of motor yachts, commercial, military and paramilitary vessels.
• Royal Australian NavycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2007Gibbs & Cox Australia (GCA) supports multiple Royal Australian Navy programs including SEA 1180 (Arafura Class OPV), SEA 1000 (Attack Class Future Submarine), and SEA 5000 (Hunter Frigate). GCA is headquartered in Canberra, ACT, collocated with Australia's Capability Acquisition & Sustainment Group.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Donald L. Blount and Associates (DLBA):
• Serco North America: Serco North America partners with Gibbs & Cox on the DARPA NOMARS USX-1 Defiant USV program and provides marine services to the US Navy and other government clients. Comparable to Gibbs & Cox in maritime engineering services for naval and unmanned vessel programs.
• Glosten: Glosten is a US-based independent naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy serving government, commercial, and offshore clients. Closely comparable to Gibbs & Cox as a privately-held, employee-owned US firm offering ship design, engineering analysis, and program support across naval and commercial vessel programs.
• Robert Allan Ltd. Robert Allan Ltd. is a leading Canadian naval architecture firm specializing in tugboats, workboats, patrol vessels, and fireboats. Directly comparable to Gibbs & Cox in providing independent ship design and engineering services, particularly for government/military and commercial marine customers.
• BMT Group: BMT is a global maritime engineering, design, and risk management consultancy serving defense, commercial, and offshore markets. Comparable to Gibbs & Cox in naval architecture and marine engineering design services, with broader international reach across UK/Australia/US naval programs.
• Herbert Engineering Corp. Herbert Engineering is a US naval architecture and marine engineering firm specializing in commercial ship design, including tankers, bulk carriers, and containerships. Comparable to Gibbs & Cox's commercial vessel and DLBA divisions in offering independent ship design services.

Others

• Hanwha Ocean:
• NAVSEA (Naval Sea Systems Command): NAVSEA is the US Navy's primary organization for ship design, acquisition, and lifecycle support. As Gibbs & Cox's largest customer and a co-developer on many programs (DDG-51, DDG(X), FFG(X)), NAVSEA is the most consequential counterpart entity, though it is a customer/partner rather than a competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII): HII is the largest US military shipbuilder and operates Technical Solutions division providing naval engineering services. Comparable to Gibbs & Cox as both a partner (co-design on Trump class battleship) and competitor with substantial in-house naval architecture and marine engineering capabilities.
• Alion Science and Technology: Alion (now part of HII's Mission Technologies) provides defense engineering and naval architecture services to the US Navy. Comparable to Gibbs & Cox in providing ship design and engineering services to US Navy programs, but as part of a much broader defense services portfolio within HII.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gibbscox
• Facebookfacebook.com/gibbscox
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/81694
• Instagraminstagram.com/gibbscox.inc

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gibbs & Cox