HII to Construct Small Surface Combatants for US Navy

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has secured a contract from the U.S. Navy to design and construct a new small surface combatant (SSC) vessel. This project will utilize the well-established design of the Legend-class national security cutter (NSC).

Details of the Contract

This contract marks a significant advancement for Ingalls Shipbuilding, which has a strong history of producing complex naval vessels. The construction will take place alongside other projects, including destroyers and amphibious ships.

Leadership Comments

Chris Kastner, HII president and CEO, emphasized the importance of speed and reliability in naval shipbuilding. He expressed confidence in the Ingalls team to deliver the SSC on schedule while expanding the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.

Current Shipbuilding Activities

At present, Ingalls Shipbuilding is involved in multiple projects. The shipyard is constructing:

• DDG 51 Flight III destroyers
• LHA amphibious assault ships
• LPD Flight II landing platform dock ships

Additionally, Ingalls is modernizing the Zumwalt-class of guided missile destroyers with advanced technology, including the new conventional prompt strike weapons system.

Past Achievements

Ingalls Shipbuilding has a proven track record with the U.S. Coast Guard, having built and delivered 10 NSCs over nearly two decades. The final cutter was delivered in October 2023.

Investment and Expansion Plans

To support future projects, HII has invested over $1 billion in infrastructure and tooling at the Ingalls facility. This investment positions the shipyard to accommodate next-generation naval systems.

This year alone, HII has distributed work to 23 outsourcing partners and formed partnerships with international manufacturers. These collaborations aim to explore options for expanding production capacity, including the possibility of establishing an additional shipyard within the United States.