NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Dec. 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HII (NYSE: HII) announced today that its Newport News Shipbuilding division has reached a significant construction milestone for Virginia-class submarine Oklahoma (SSN 802). Oklahoma is now “pressure hull complete,” which signifies all of the hull sections have joined to form a single, watertight unit. “Achieving pressure hull complete on Oklahoma highlights our commitment to accelerating production and delivering unmatched capability to our Navy customer ...

Huntington Ingalls Industries, Inc. (HII) is a leading U.S. military shipbuilding company and a prominent provider of professional services to government and industry clients. Headquartered in Newport News, Virginia, HII was formed in March 2011 following the spin-off of Northrop Grumman’s (NOC) shipbuilding operations. Its operations span three main divisions, Newport News Shipbuilding, Ingalls Shipbuilding, and Mission Technologies, encompassing design, construction, overhaul, maintenance, and services a ...

Group 1: Federal Reserve Leadership - Former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh is a leading candidate to succeed Jerome Powell as Fed chair, alongside National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett [2][3] - President Trump emphasized the importance of the next Fed chair consulting with him on interest rate decisions, asserting that his voice should be considered [2] Group 2: FDA Travel During Government Shutdown - A CNBC investigation revealed that 31 FDA staff members traveled to Singapore for a conference during a record-setting government shutdown, costing the agency over $250,000, or nearly $8,000 per attendee [4][5] - The trip was deemed "mission critical" by the FDA, despite the agency facing staffing and resource constraints due to the 43-day shutdown and a proposed 11.5% budget cut [5] Group 3: U.S. Shipbuilding Industry - The Trump administration aims to revitalize the U.S. shipbuilding industry, which currently lags behind China, capturing only 25% of new ship orders and having significantly less building capacity [7][8] - To enhance domestic shipbuilding, the administration is seeking partnerships with international companies, such as South Korea's Hanwha, indicating that foreign expertise is necessary for success [8] Group 4: Netflix and "Stranger Things" - Netflix is set to release the final episodes of "Stranger Things," marking a significant milestone for the streaming platform, which has developed numerous partnerships related to the series [10][11] - The franchise is viewed as a pivotal moment for Netflix, comparable to a "Star Wars" moment, due to its cultural impact and contribution to live events [11]

German shipbuilder Meyer Werft has clinched an order worth €10 billion ($11.7 billion) through 2033 with Swiss cruise operator MSC Cruises https://t.co/jRyUYNFixH ...

Industry Overview & Challenges - China dominates global commercial shipbuilding with 53% market share, while the U S accounts for only about 0 1% [2] - The U S shipbuilding industry faces challenges including talent shortages, antiquated operating procedures, and outdated facilities [3][15] - U S shipbuilders face challenges including building complicated ships like nuclear submarines and LNG vessels to inconsistent funding [29] - U S-flagged vessels cost six to eight times more to build and two to three times more to operate than foreign-flagged counterparts [17] Investment & Modernization - Hanwha invested $5 billion to modernize the Philly Shipyard, aiming to increase automation and expand production [1][9] - South Korea committed $150 billion towards U S shipbuilding [10] - Fincantieri has invested over $800 million in its four U S shipyards [26] Production & Capacity - Hanwha Philly Shipyard currently delivers about 1 to 1 5 ships a year, with aspirations to build 20 ships annually [8] - Hanwha shipyard in South Korea produces about 40 to 50 ships a year [9] - The U S Navy has a goal of building 381 ships over the next three decades, requiring up to $36 billion [37] Workforce & Training - U S shipbuilders employed more than 105,000 people in 2023, but face a shortage of skilled professionals and an aging workforce [20] - Shipbuilders will need an additional 174,000 workers over the next decade to meet the Navy's goals [21] - Hanwha is sending U S workers to South Korea for training to accelerate skills transfer [22] Technological Advancements - New technologies like automation, robotics, AR, and VR-training could help propel the shipbuilding industry [30][31] - Modular construction is another technique that could boost efficiency and help U S shipyards compete [32]

Core Insights - The U.S. shipbuilding industry is undergoing a revival initiative led by the Trump administration, focusing on enhancing domestic capabilities while relying on foreign expertise and investment [2][6][7] Shipbuilding Industry Overview - The American shipbuilding industry has experienced two significant booms in the past 110 years, during World War I and World War II, but currently faces challenges due to limited domestic capacity compared to China, which has 232 times the shipbuilding capacity of the U.S. [3][5] - The U.S. has only eight active shipyards, while China boasts over 300, dominating the global market with a 53% share [3][5] Foreign Collaboration and Investment - The Trump administration's "Make American Shipyards Great Again" initiative includes partnerships with foreign shipbuilders, particularly South Korea's Hanwha Group, which is the third-largest shipbuilder globally [7][8] - A $350 billion investment deal between South Korea and the U.S. includes $150 billion allocated for maritime investment, highlighting the importance of international collaboration [8] Specific Projects and Developments - Hanwha Philly Shipyard, acquired by Hanwha Group, is set to expand its vessel-making capacity significantly, with plans to increase production from 1-1.5 vessels per year to 20 vessels [9][12] - The shipyard has received its first orders for LNG carriers, marking a significant milestone in U.S. shipbuilding, with deliveries expected around 2028 [10] Workforce and Training Challenges - The U.S. shipbuilding industry faces workforce challenges, with a need for skilled instructors to train new employees. Hanwha plans to rotate U.S. workers to South Korea for training [11] - The current workforce at Hanwha Philly Shipyard is 1,700, with aspirations to grow to over 10,000 to meet production goals [12] Strategic Defense Considerations - The U.S. aims to enhance its naval capabilities, including the construction of nuclear-powered submarines at Hanwha Philly Shipyard, emphasizing the need for self-sufficiency in national security [17][18] - The U.S. Coast Guard's icebreaker fleet is outdated, with plans to acquire 11 new icebreakers through a $6.1 billion agreement with Finnish shipyards, addressing the need for Arctic defense capabilities [29][30] Market Dynamics - The U.S. currently has a minimal share in the LNG tanker market, with only one U.S.-flagged LNG tanker, while the country exports nearly 30% of its crude oil production without significant issues related to tanker availability [15][16] - The Jones Act mandates that vessels transporting goods between U.S. ports must be U.S.-built, which impacts the domestic shipbuilding market [14]

Australia will allow South Korea’s top defense firm Hanwha Aerospace to increase its stake in shipbuilder Austal Ltd. to 19.9%, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said after agreeing to a recommendation from the Foreign Investment Review Board https://t.co/xPcCfvoypH ...

Core Insights - HII hosted an Australian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles to strengthen the AUKUS partnership focused on nuclear-powered submarines and advanced capabilities [1][2][3] Group 1: AUKUS Partnership - The visit supports the trilateral AUKUS partnership, which aims to provide Australia with conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines [2] - HII is committed to the AUKUS mission, emphasizing industrial integration among the U.S., U.K., and Australia for aligned defense production and workforce development [6][7] Group 2: Delegation Activities - The Australian delegation toured Newport News Shipbuilding, witnessing the keel laying ceremony for the Virginia-class submarine Barb (SSN 804) [3] - Delegates engaged with HII leadership and learned about the construction of Virginia-class submarines and workforce development initiatives [3][6] Group 3: Workforce Development and Supplier Qualification - HII is a founding member of the AUKUS Workforce Alliance, aimed at preparing a skilled workforce for Australia's nuclear submarine program [7] - The company has been awarded a contract for the Australian Submarine Supplier Qualification (AUSSQ) pilot program to expedite the qualification of Australian suppliers for the U.S. submarine industrial base [7]

Palantir Technologies (PLTR) recently landed one of its most significant defense contracts yet as the U.S. Navy tapped the software firm to overhaul submarine production through artificial intelligence. The deal authorizes up to $448 million to deploy Palantir's technology across America's entire Maritime Industrial Base under an initiative called ShipOS. www.barchart.com The Virginia-class and Columbia-class submarine programs are billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule. The Columbia-c ...

Group 1 - Nantong aims to build a higher-level national innovation city, integrating technological and industrial innovation to achieve significant results in cultivating new productivity and optimizing the innovation ecosystem [1] - By the end of 2025, the number of high-tech enterprises in Nantong is expected to exceed 5,000, marking a substantial increase from the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan [1] - Nantong has established a "micro-growth, small upgrade, high transformation" cultivation chain for innovative enterprises, with 19 companies recognized as provincial unicorns and 89 as gazelle enterprises [1] Group 2 - Over 70% of Nantong's industrial enterprises have partnered with universities and research institutions in Shanghai for innovation, with over 1,000 collaborative projects established in the past five years [2] - Nantong has been recognized as one of the most attractive cities for foreign talent in China for four consecutive years, supported by streamlined services for foreign talent [2] - The establishment of a high-level Science and Technology Innovation Committee and various supportive policies, such as the "30 Innovation Measures," demonstrate Nantong's commitment to fostering innovation [2] Group 3 - Nantong's R&D intensity has increased to 2.96%, with high-tech industry output accounting for 49.6% of the city's industrial output [3] - The shipbuilding and high-end textile industries have achieved national-level status and received prestigious awards, indicating strong performance in technological advancement [3] - Nantong is focused on cultivating new productivity with unique characteristics, striving for excellence in the integration of technological innovation and industry [3]