Core Points - HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division celebrated the graduation of its newest class of apprentices, highlighting the importance of the program in developing skilled shipbuilders [1][5] - The Ingalls apprentice program has been in operation since 1952 and has produced over 4,000 graduates, with more than 600 students currently enrolled [5] - The program is recognized as a competitive workforce development initiative, providing specialized training in various shipbuilding skills [5][8] Company Overview - Ingalls Shipbuilding is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi and has a history of over 85 years in designing, building, and maintaining ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard [8] - The company employs a workforce of 44,000 and is the nation's largest military shipbuilder, contributing to U.S. national security through various advanced capabilities [11] Graduate Highlights - Cody Gildea was recognized as the Overall Apprentice of the Year, training as an outside machinist and reflecting on the valuable hands-on experience gained during the program [6][7] - Graduates of the program earn competitive wages and receive comprehensive benefits, allowing them to develop into skilled craftsmen [7]

Core Insights - HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division celebrated the graduation of its latest class of apprentices, highlighting the importance of workforce development in the shipbuilding industry [1][5] - The Ingalls apprentice program has been operational since 1952, producing over 4,000 graduates and currently enrolling more than 600 students [5][8] - The program is recognized as a critical component of Ingalls' skilled workforce, contributing to national security through the construction of military vessels [3][8] Company Overview - Ingalls Shipbuilding is the largest manufacturing employer in Mississippi, with a history of over 85 years in designing, building, and maintaining ships for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard [8] - The company employs a workforce of 44,000 and is the nation's largest military shipbuilder, providing a range of capabilities from ships to advanced technologies [11] Apprentice Program Details - The Ingalls apprentice program combines classroom instruction with hands-on experience, focusing on skills such as welding and fitting [3][5] - Graduates of the program, like Cody Gildea, express pride in their work, which contributes to national defense [6][7] - Apprentices earn competitive wages and receive benefits, allowing them to develop into skilled craftsmen [7]

MCLEAN, Va., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Mission Technologies division was awarded a $147 million contract to support shipboard and shore-based combat training services for the U.S. Navy. Under the five-year task order, HII will provide engineering support for every aspect of training systems under the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dam Neck Activity (NSWCDD DNA), including associated hardware, software, subsystems and elements. Tasks wil ...

MCLEAN, Va., March 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE:HII) announced today that its Mission Technologies division was awarded a $147 million contract to support shipboard and shore-based combat training services for the U.S. Navy. Under the five-year task order, HII will provide engineering support for every aspect of training systems under the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division, Dam Neck Activity (NSWCDD DNA), including associated hardware, software, subsystems and elements. Tasks will ...

Core Insights - HII's Mission Technologies division has been awarded a task order worth approximately $182 million to provide logistics support for U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot training devices [1][2]. Group 1: Contract Details - The task order spans five years and involves engineering maintenance for the U.S. Air Force's Mission Tactics Trainer Training System Support Center, which sustains F-16 aircraft simulator systems used by the U.S. Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, and the U.S. Navy [2]. - The work will primarily take place in Mesa, Arizona, and will complement existing contracts, including Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) for F-15 pilot training [3]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The contract is deemed essential for ensuring that U.S. Air Force operators have world-class training devices, which is critical for maintaining a combat-ready force and national security [3]. - HII aims to enhance mission effectiveness and pilot safety through its experience in aviation training and collaboration with Trident Military Systems [3][5]. Group 3: Company Overview - HII is recognized as the nation's largest military shipbuilder with over 135 years of history in advancing U.S. national security, providing capabilities that range from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML, and synthetic training [6][7]. - The company employs a workforce of 44,000 and is headquartered in Virginia, focusing on delivering high-value engineering and technology solutions for multi-domain training [7].

Core Insights - HII's Mission Technologies division has secured a task order worth approximately $182 million to provide logistics support for U.S. Air Force F-16 pilot training devices [1][2]. Group 1: Contract Details - The task order spans five years and involves engineering maintenance for the U.S. Air Force's Mission Tactics Trainer Training System Support Center, which supports F-16 aircraft simulator systems used by the U.S. Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, and the U.S. Navy [2]. - Work will primarily take place in Mesa, Arizona, and will complement existing contracts, including Distributed Mission Operations (DMO) for F-15 pilot training [3]. Group 2: Strategic Importance - The contract is deemed essential for ensuring that U.S. Air Force operators have world-class training devices, which is critical for maintaining a combat-ready force and national security [3]. - HII aims to enhance mission effectiveness and pilot safety through its experience in aviation training and collaboration with Trident Military Systems [3][5]. Group 3: Company Background - HII is recognized as the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S. and has a history of over 135 years in advancing national security [6][7]. - The company employs a workforce of 44,000 and provides a range of capabilities from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML, and synthetic training [7].

Core Points - HII has been awarded a $9.6 million (AUD) contract to lead the AUSSQ pilot program, aimed at integrating Australian suppliers into the U.S. submarine industrial base over the next two years [2][4][5] - The AUSSQ pilot program is part of the Australian Government's AUKUS Submarine Industry Strategy, which seeks to develop a sovereign industrial capability for nuclear-powered submarines [4][5] - HII's extensive experience in managing supplier networks for U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine programs will support Australian industry in meeting stringent construction requirements [6][8] Contract Details - The initial value of the contract is $9.6 million (AUD), with options for extension based on performance [2] - The program will utilize a B2B model, allowing HII Australia to work directly with Australian businesses to qualify them and their products for U.S. programs [4][5] Strategic Importance - The initiative is crucial for building a resilient and globally integrated supply chain for nuclear-powered submarines, enhancing Australia's defense capabilities [3][4] - The program aims to establish a sustainable pipeline of qualified suppliers, reinforcing the broader AUKUS partnership between Australia, the UK, and the U.S. [8] HII's Expertise - HII has over 60 years of experience in nuclear-powered submarine construction and supplier management, emphasizing quality assurance and safety [6][8] - The company engages with over 2,000 suppliers annually, spending approximately $1 billion, with a significant portion directed to small businesses [7] Collaboration and Support - The contract will be managed by HII's Australian operations in partnership with H&B Defence, a joint venture with Babcock [9] - HII will provide technical guidance and best practices to Australian suppliers to ensure compliance with nuclear submarine specifications [8]

Core Viewpoint - Citigroup has recommended buying Huntington Ingalls (HII) stock as a cost-effective investment in the defense sector, leading to a significant increase in HII stock price by 10.5% following President Trump's statements [1][2]. Group 1: Government Initiatives - President Trump announced a plan to revitalize the American shipbuilding industry, which includes both commercial and military shipbuilding, positively impacting HII investors [2][3]. - The formation of a new office of shipbuilding in the White House is part of this initiative, along with proposals for special tax incentives aimed at bringing the shipbuilding industry back to the U.S. [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Implications - The administration plans to fund these tax incentives through new fees on Chinese-built ships entering U.S. ports, indicating a financial strategy to support domestic shipbuilders [4]. - Huntington Ingalls is currently valued at over 12 times trailing earnings and 0.6 times trailing sales, suggesting it is attractively priced [5]. - Long-term earnings growth for HII is projected to average 11% annually, with an additional 3.1% dividend yield, making it a potentially safe investment given the new initiatives [5].

Group 1 - Huntington Ingalls Industries missed quarterly estimates, reporting earnings of $3.15 per share on revenue of $3 billion, which is a 5.7% year-over-year decline [3] - The company's shares fell 11% in February due to execution issues and a lack of easy fixes [1][5] - Huntington Ingalls has a backlog of $48.7 billion, indicating steady demand for its products despite current challenges [7] Group 2 - The company is facing long-term contract issues, with many contracts signed before the pandemic, leading to increased labor and raw material costs [4][2] - Huntington Ingalls plans to cut approximately $250 million in gross costs by 2025, but actual savings may be lower due to "cost plus" contract structures [5] - The U.S. military's potential shift towards smaller, uncrewed ships poses a risk to Huntington Ingalls' competitive advantage in building large ships [8][9] Group 3 - Despite current challenges, Huntington Ingalls is considered a stable company with a significant moat in the defense sector [6] - The company generates free cash flow and offers a dividend yield of over 3%, which may attract investors looking for income [7] - There are concerns about retaining specialized workers due to the sporadic nature of large ship construction [9]

Core Insights - HII has successfully installed the first valve manifold assembly created through additive manufacturing on the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80) [1][3] - The integration of additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, into shipbuilding is expected to accelerate construction and improve manufacturing quality for critical components [2][6] - The valve manifold assembly measures approximately 5 feet long and weighs 1,000 pounds, showcasing the shipyard's commitment to utilizing additive manufacturing [3][6] Company Developments - HII's Newport News Shipbuilding division plans to use additive manufacturing for similar assemblies on the upcoming Doris Miller (CVN 81), which will enhance efficiency and reduce schedule risks [4][6] - The shipyard has produced over 55 additively manufactured parts for both new vessels and those in the existing fleet, with intentions to install more than 200 additional parts within the year [6] Industry Impact - The advancements in additive manufacturing are expected to significantly improve efficiencies in shipbuilding, as stated by HII's vice president of engineering and design [6] - HII's certification as a supplier for additive manufacturing components on Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) platforms underlines its role in modernizing military shipbuilding practices [6][7]