Newport News Shipbuilding

What Newport News Shipbuilding does

Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) is a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII) and the largest military shipbuilder in the United States. Founded in 1886 and headquartered on a 550-acre shipyard along two miles of the James River in Newport News, Virginia, NNS employs approximately 26,000 workers, making it the largest industrial employer in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Over its 140-year history, the shipyard has delivered more than 800 vessels and remains the only U.S. shipyard capable of designing, building, and refueling nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, while also being one of only two yards authorized to build nuclear-powered submarines. The division's core product lines are the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers, the Block VI Virginia-class fast-attack submarines, and the Build II Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarines.

NNS's business model is anchored in long-term U.S. Navy cost-type and fixed-price-incentive contracts, with revenue recognized across multi-decade build cycles. The July 2026 award of approximately $76.6 billion in combined Block VI Virginia-class and Build II Columbia-class contracts extends backlog visibility well into the 2040s. Beyond nuclear shipbuilding, NNS contributes to the broader HII Mission Technologies portfolio, including unmanned systems (REMUS UUVs, ROMULUS USVs, Watcher sUSV) and AI-enabled command, control, and intelligence products such as the Odyssey autonomous control system, MAGNAV magnetic anomaly navigation, and the STINGRAI intelligence platform. A $2.2 billion STINGRAI task order for U.S. Southern Command demonstrates the expansion of revenue streams beyond traditional naval shipbuilding into defense services.

Revenue mechanics rely on milestone-based progress payments on long-cycle shipbuilding programs plus services revenue from Mission Technologies engagements delivered to the U.S. Department of Defense, intelligence community, and allied navies. Geographic footprint beyond Newport News extends to Goose Creek (SC), Pascagoula (MS) at the sister Ingalls Shipbuilding division, McLean (VA) for Mission Technologies headquarters, and Arlington (VA). NNS's go-to-market depends on sole-source and limited-competition procurements justified by its unique nuclear certifications, established teaming with General Dynamics Electric Boat, and inclusion in U.S. Navy program-of-record budgets.

Name

Newport News Shipbuilding

Legal name

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc.

Website

https://hii.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

10,001+ employees

Short description

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, designs, builds, and refuels nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy from its 550-acre shipyard in Newport News, Virginia, employing 26,000 workers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Defense Shipbuilding

NAICS

Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)

akta.pro primary industry

Submarine Manufacturing (SSN/SSK/SSBN) (IMAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aircraft Carriers & Large Deck Aviation Ships (IMAJABAC), Naval Weapons & Launch Systems (Guns, VLS, Torpedoes) (IMABAKAC), Submarine Combat Systems & Sonar Manufacturing (CMS, Sensors, EW) (IMAJAOAH)

Keywords

• Nuclear shipbuilding
• Naval vessel construction
• Submarine manufacturing
• Aircraft carrier construction
• Unmanned maritime systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport News

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Defense shipbuilding and construction: NNS designs, builds, maintains, refuels and inactivates nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy. Revenue generated through large defense contracts including Virginia-class submarines, Columbia-class submarines, and Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.
2. Submarine construction contracts: Combined contracts of approximately $76.6 billion for construction of Block VI Virginia-class and Build II Columbia-class submarines, serving as delivery yard for Virginia-class and constructing module sections for Columbia-class
3. Mission Technologies intelligence and surveillance: $2.2 billion STINGRAI task order for advanced surveillance, tracking, intelligence, network services, global reconnaissance, analysis and interceptions supporting U.S. Southern Command

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) designs, builds, refuels, overhauls, and repairs nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy. As a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), NNS serves as the delivery yard for Virginia-class submarines and constructs module sections for Columbia-class submarines, while also producing Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers. The company extends its capabilities into unmanned maritime systems through HII's Mission Technologies division.

Product overview

Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of HII, operates as America's largest shipbuilder delivering nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines for the U.S. Navy. The company offers a portfolio spanning core naval vessel construction (Gerald R. Ford-class carriers, Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarines) alongside autonomous maritime systems through Mission Technologies. Key products include the REMUS family of unmanned underwater vehicles, ROMULUS unmanned surface vessels, the Watcher sUSV, and the Odyssey Autonomous Control System. Mission Technologies also delivers defense technology solutions including the Navy Training Baseline simulation platform, MAGNAV navigation technology, and the STINGRAI intelligence program. The product portfolio is organized around three execution teams: Newport News Shipbuilding (carriers and submarines), Ingalls Shipbuilding (amphibious ships and destroyers), and Mission Technologies (autonomous systems and all-domain mission solutions).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carriers Design, construction, overhaul, and repair of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the U.S. Navy, including the Gerald R. Ford-class (CVN 78, CVN 79, John F. Kennedy).
• Virginia-class Submarines Design and construction of nuclear-powered attack submarines for the U.S. Navy. NNS serves as the delivery yard for Block VI Virginia-class submarines.
• Columbia-class Submarines Construction of module sections (6 per submarine) for Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines for the U.S. Navy.
• REMUS Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) Family of unmanned underwater vehicles deployed by U.S. Navy and allied partners for mine countermeasures, underwater reconnaissance, intelligence collection, environmental assessment, and seabed operations.
• ROMULUS Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) High-speed autonomous surface vessels including ROMULUS-25, capable of carrying payloads up to 1,000 pounds and operating at ranges up to 1,000 nautical miles.
• Watcher Small Unmanned Surface Vessel (sUSV) Production-ready autonomous surface interceptor based on ROMULUS-25, powered by HII Odyssey Autonomous Control System, developed for U.S. Marine Corps under DIU PRIME program.
• STINGRAI Surveillance, Tracking, Intelligence, Network Services, Global Reconnaissance, Analysis, and Interceptions program supporting U.S. Southern Command operations under a $2.2 billion task order.
• Navy Training Baseline (NTB) Suite of tools providing terrain, constructive entities, scenario generation, unit interactions and simulation depictions for warfighter training across LVC (Live, Virtual, Constructive) environments.
• Universal Canister Electronic Units (UCEU) Electronic units for MK 57 Vertical Launch System (VLS), including integration and modernization solutions for naval combat systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 26 Virginia-class submarines built and delivered to date
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 11 August 2026STINGRAI task order awarded under GSA ASTRO Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, issued by GSA Assisted Acquisition Services (AAS) Defense. Period of performance: one base year with six option years.
• General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 July 2026NNS and GDEB form the U.S. nuclear submarine shipbuilding team. Combined contracts of approximately $76.6 billion for construction of Block VI Virginia-class and Build II Columbia-class submarines. NNS serves as delivery yard for Virginia-class and is a major shipbuilding partner for Columbia-class constructing 6 module sections per submarine. Together they have built and delivered 26 Virginia-class submarines.
• U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026DIU selected HII for PRIME prototype project (Production-Ready, Inexpensive, Maritime Expeditionary). DIU officially recognized successful completion of the prototype project featuring Watcher sUSV based on ROMULUS-25 with Odyssey ACS, achieving all technical objectives and supporting potential transition to production under Other Transaction Authority.
• Breaux Brothers EnterprisessupportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026HII partner in production of Romulus 151 vessels. Family-owned yard with long history in aluminum vessel construction. Partnership example of how smaller Gulf Coast builders and large defense companies are combining strengths to accelerate unmanned production.
• MetalCraft MarinecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Partnership for production of ROMULUS-25 based Watcher small Unmanned Surface Vessel (sUSV). MetalCraft Marine provides the aluminum vessel platform while HII provides Odyssey Autonomous Control System. Successfully completed DIU PRIME prototype project with all technical objectives met, positioning for potential transition to production.
• Ingalls ShipbuildingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Major HII division formed in 2011 through merger with Newport News Shipbuilding. Ingalls Shipbuilding is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi, designing, building and maintaining amphibious ships, destroyers, and cutters for U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.
• Mississippi Gulf Coast Community CollegesupportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1952Educational partnership supporting Ingalls Apprentice School - apprentices may receive credit towards Associate of Applied Science in Maritime Technology upon completing approved apprenticeship program
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 733supportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1952Joint sponsorship of Ingalls Apprentice School alongside Pascagoula Metal Trades Council
• Pascagoula Metal Trades CouncilsupportStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1952Joint sponsorship of Ingalls Apprentice School alongside International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 733

Scale indicators20 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• General Dynamics Electric Boat: Electric Boat is NNS's sole shipbuilding partner for U.S. nuclear submarines, sharing Block VI Virginia-class delivery responsibilities and constructing the majority of Columbia-class modules. It is the most directly comparable yard given overlapping nuclear-submarine expertise, similarly sole-source with the U.S. Navy, and shared backlog economics.
• Bath Iron Works (General Dynamics): Bath Iron Works is a General Dynamics subsidiary and the U.S. Navy's primary Arleigh Burke-class destroyer builder. It is directly comparable as a large U.S. defense shipyard serving the same single customer with similar cost-plus contract economics and capital intensity.
• Fincantieri Marine Group: Fincantieri's U.S. operations (including Fincantieri Marinette Marine) build Freedom-class littoral combat ships and Constellation-class frigates for the U.S. Navy. It is a directly comparable U.S. naval shipbuilder with similar government-contract dependence and surface combatant focus.
• Austal USA: Austal USA builds Independence-class littoral combat ships and Expeditionary Fast Transport vessels for the U.S. Navy. It is a directly comparable U.S. defense shipyard operating in similar surface combatant and auxiliary ship categories under Navy contracts.
• Bollinger Shipyards: Bollinger builds U.S. Navy patrol boats, fast response cutters, and other auxiliary vessels, and has expanded into larger surface combatants. It is a directly comparable U.S. small-to-mid naval shipbuilder, though at a smaller scale than NNS.

Broad incumbents

• HII Ingalls Shipbuilding: Ingalls is the sister division of NNS within HII, building amphibious ships, destroyers, and cutters for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. It is the same corporate parent and shares workforce/training infrastructure, but operates in adjacent surface combatant shipbuilding rather than nuclear capital ships.
• BAE Systems Ship Repair: BAE Systems operates U.S. shipyards performing naval ship repair, modernization, and selected new construction. It is broadly comparable as a Tier 1 U.S. naval prime with similar regulatory and government-contract dynamics, though focused on maintenance and surface combatants rather than nuclear capital ships.
• Lockheed Martin: Lockheed Martin is a top-tier U.S. defense prime supplying naval combat systems, sonar, missiles, and integrated warfare systems, including content aboard NNS-built submarines and carriers. It is broadly comparable as a Tier 1 U.S. defense prime with naval exposure, though it does not build hulls.

Regional players

• Naval Group: Naval Group is France's state-owned naval shipbuilder, building Barracuda-class SSNs and the future SNLE-3G SSBN. It is comparable as a global nuclear-submarine builder but operates in a different geography and serves the French Navy primarily.

Emerging players

• Anduril Industries: Anduril is a fast-growing U.S. defense technology company building autonomous maritime (and other) systems, including unmanned surface vessels for the DoD. It is an emerging peer to HII Mission Technologies' unmanned systems franchise (REMUS, ROMULUS, Watcher, Odyssey ACS), representing a new competitive threat in the autonomous maritime segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/newportnewsshipbuilding

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Newport News Shipbuilding