HII Begins Early Construction Work on Fifth Ford-Class Carrier for the U.S. Navy

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) has launched early construction activity on the U.S. Navy’s fifth Gerald R. Ford-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, according to a report by Zona Militar citing the company’s announcement. The milestone marks the start of the long lead phase, during which major components and materials are prepared ahead of full assembly.

The work will take place at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division in Virginia, the nation’s sole builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. Newport News is one of three segments within HII, alongside Ingalls and Mission Technologies, and is responsible for the design, construction, and lifecycle support of the Navy’s carrier fleet.

The Ford class (CVN 78) is the Navy’s current generation of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, succeeding the Nimitz class. Construction of these vessels spans roughly a decade from advance fabrication to delivery, making early-phase milestones significant for the shipbuilder’s multi-year backlog. HII’s shipbuilding programs are executed under long-term contracts with the U.S. Navy, providing substantial revenue visibility across its Newport News and Ingalls yards.

Shares of HII closed at $282.19, down 1.9% from the prior close of $287.67, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $11.46 billion. The company operates within the industrials sector in the aerospace and defense industry.

Carrier construction remains a cornerstone of HII’s Newport News operations, which also handles refueling and complex overhauls of in-service carriers and submarine work for the Navy. The advance to the fifth Ford-class hull reflects continued investment in the program as earlier ships in the class progress through construction, sea trials, and fleet integration.

What to watch

• HII’s upcoming quarterly earnings report, including updates on Newport News shipbuilding segment performance and margin trends.
• Contract award milestones and funding notifications tied to the fifth Ford-class hull in U.S. Navy budget documents.
• Progress on earlier Ford-class carriers in construction or testing at Newport News Shipbuilding.
• Any guidance updates from HII on shipbuilding throughput and long-lead material procurement.

Source: original release