PASCAGOULA, Miss., Jan. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that Fatina Brave has been appointed vice president of infrastructure and sustainability at its Ingalls Shipbuilding division. Brave succeeds Eric Crooker, who has transitioned into the role of vice president of program management at Ingalls, succeeding George Nungesser who is retiring at the beginning of February after 37 years of service to the company. Brave will oversee all environmental, health, safety, security, facil ...

26 January 2026 Global Aerospace & Defense US Defense: Land of Confusion? Answers - but, more questions; And Q4 preview Douglas S. Harned, Ph.D. +1 917 344 8430 douglas.harned@bernsteinsg.com Adrien Rabier +44 20 7676 6820 adrien.rabier@bernsteinsg.com Jennifer Ma +1 917 344 8408 jennifer.ma@bernsteinsg.com Specialist Sales Steve Song +1 917 344 8401 steve.song@bernsteinsg.com US defense stocks outperformed during the first three weeks of 2026, as geopolitical tensions rose and President Trump reiterated hi ...

NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Jan. 28, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII’s (NYSE: HII) Newport News Shipbuilding division is marking 140 years of service to the nation today. On Jan. 28, 1886, Collis P. Huntington, a businessman whose investments enabled completion of the U.S. transcontinental railroad, turned his focus to shipbuilding, establishing what was first chartered as Chesapeake Dry Dock and Construction Co. and was then renamed Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company. Several years later, the shipyard deliv ...

PASCAGOULA, Miss., Jan. 26, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that Daniel Marks has been appointed vice president of contracts and pricing at its Ingalls Shipbuilding division. Marks succeeds Stephen Fitts, who has been appointed vice president of supply chain management at Ingalls and is succeeding Scott Weldon who retired at the end of December 2025 after 25 years of service to the company. In this role, Marks will be responsible for contract administration, estimating and pricing, ...

Key Takeaways Defense stocks are outperforming as shifting U.S. policy reinforces sustained military spending.Trump's call for a stronger U.S. military and faster modernization has boosted interest in KTOS.Long-term government contracts and order backlogs are driving attention toward Huntington Ingalls Industries.Defense stocks have moved higher in recent weeks, outperforming much of the broader market as investors respond to a combination of geopolitical uncertainty and shifting policy expectations in Wash ...

Core Insights - HII celebrates the one-year anniversary of Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) Charleston Operations in Goose Creek, South Carolina, highlighting the facility's contributions to U.S. Navy programs and community engagement [1][2]. Group 1: Production and Operations - Since the acquisition in January 2025, NNS has ramped up production at the Charleston facility, delivering its first unit within 40 days and exceeding production targets for 2025 [2]. - The Charleston Operations spans 45 acres with over 480,000 square feet of manufacturing space, strategically located within South Carolina's maritime ecosystem, providing barge and rail access and the potential for expansion [5]. Group 2: Strategic Initiatives - HII's distributed shipbuilding initiative aims to increase shipbuilding throughput to meet rising demand, partnering with 23 shipyards and fabricators beyond traditional labor markets [6]. - The company is exploring partnerships with international manufacturers to expand capacity, including the potential addition of another shipyard in the U.S. [6]. Group 3: Workforce and Community Engagement - NNS President Kari Wilkinson emphasized the importance of teamwork across locations, stating that the collective efforts contribute to significant historical changes in shipbuilding [2]. - Rear Adm. Jonathan Rucker acknowledged the crucial role of shipbuilders in increasing submarine and carrier shipbuilding capacity, highlighting the importance of leveraging local and national talent [5].

Core Insights - HII's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has successfully completed builder's sea trials for the USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), marking a significant milestone in the modernization of the Navy's first Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) platform [1][2] Group 1: Modernization and Capabilities - The USS Zumwalt underwent extensive modernization, including the integration of the CPS weapon system and the replacement of the original twin 155mm Advanced Gun Systems with new missile tubes [2] - The Zumwalt-class destroyers are equipped with advanced technologies such as electric propulsion systems, wave-piercing tumblehome hulls, and stealth designs, enabling them to perform a variety of missions including deterrence and power projection [5] Group 2: Company Overview - HII is recognized as the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., with a history of over 135 years in advancing national security [6] - The company employs a workforce of 44,000 and focuses on delivering a wide range of defense capabilities, including ships, unmanned systems, and cyber solutions [6]

Group 1 - Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (NYSE:HII) is recognized as one of the 10 Best Defense Stocks to Buy in the S&P 500, with a recent price target increase from Citigroup to $450 from $376, maintaining a Buy rating [1] - Analysts project a 14% downside for Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) as part of broader adjustments in the aerospace and defense sector, although they expect ongoing momentum in the first half of the year [2] - As of January 19, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is rated as a Moderate Buy, with a one-year average share price target of $368.33, indicating a downside of 13.52% [3] Group 2 - The company's Mission Technologies division secured a significant indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Missile Defense Agency's SHIELD program, valued at a ceiling of $151 billion, aimed at enhancing homeland defense [4] - Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. is noted for its expertise in shipbuilding and has been listed among the Best Defense Dividend Stocks to Buy [5]

Core Insights - HII's Mission Technologies division has been awarded a 10-year, $25.4 billion contract under the Advanced Technology Support Program V (ATSP5) to provide engineering solutions for electronics and software issues [1][2]. Group 1: Contract Details - The ATSP5 contract, awarded by the Defense Microelectronics Activity, is utilized by the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies for rapid access to advanced microelectronics and engineering support [2]. - The contract aims to address operational challenges due to obsolescence and expedite the deployment of advanced technologies [2]. Group 2: Company Capabilities - HII's Mission Technologies division emphasizes the importance of a reliable supply of microelectronics for enhancing warfighter survivability and mission success [3]. - The scope of ATSP5 includes hardware and software development, covering studies, analysis, design, simulation, prototyping, integration, testing, and limited production [3][4]. - HII's engineers specialize in reverse engineering and microelectronics assurance, focusing on redeploying previously obsolete systems critical to national security [4]. Group 3: Company Overview - HII is recognized as the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., with a history of over 135 years in advancing national security [5][6]. - The company provides a wide range of capabilities, including ships, unmanned systems, cyber solutions, and artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies [6].

Industry Overview - Global industrial automation is projected to reach $233.6 billion in 2026, driven by Industry 4.0 mandates focusing on re-shoring and energy-efficient production [1] - Smart grid deployments are expected to reach $52.55 billion this year, modernizing urban infrastructure through autonomous sensing [2] - The microreactor commercialization cycle is anticipated to reach $198.88 billion in 2026, as Gen-IV energy systems redefine grid independence for critical infrastructure [3][4] Company Highlights - VisionWave Holdings Inc. is developing a multi-domain autonomy ecosystem, integrating advanced radio-frequency sensing and computational acceleration with industrial robotic platforms [3] - The company is advancing its qSpeed system-level integration architecture, which aims to reduce decision-making latency in modern warfare scenarios [4][5] - VisionWave has secured a U.S. patent for its proprietary radio-frequency sensing and AI platform, ensuring a competitive edge in the space-enabled counter-UAS market [7] - The company is expanding into Southern Europe through its subsidiary, Solar Drone Ltd., with a strategic distribution agreement covering Italy and Spain [8] - VisionWave plans to invest up to $10 million in U.S. development over the next 6-12 months to advance qSpeed toward production readiness [9] Other Company Developments - Huntington Ingalls Industries demonstrated capabilities of its AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels, validating coordinated operations between surface and subsurface autonomous systems [10][11] - Amentum played a key role in NASA's Artemis II mission, successfully rolling out the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft [13][14] - AeroVironment launched the Mission Specialist Wraith, an unmanned underwater vehicle designed for advanced imaging and navigation [15][16] - BWX Technologies announced the arrival of TRISO nuclear fuel for the Project Pele microreactor, marking a significant step toward Gen-IV nuclear power [17][18]