Photo caption: BEAUFORT SEA, Arctic Circle – Sailors assigned to Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791) stand topside after an arctic surfacing during Operation ICE CAMP 2026, Mar. 14. USS Delaware was built and delivered by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Bryan Mai)
March 20, 2026
HII’s Weekly News Digest is compiled every Friday by the Corporate Communications team to summarize and highlight news stories of significance to the company.
Electric Boat Awarded $15.4 Columbia-Class Submarine Contract: GovCon Wire reported on Thursday that the U.S. Navy has awarded General Dynamics Electric Boat a $15.38 billion contract modification to support continued work on the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine program. The award funds component and technology development, as well as the production of a missile tube module and a reactor compartment bulkhead. Inside Defense reported on Thursday that the modification also includes further design work, lead yard support and sustainment activities. It also incorporates integrated enterprise plan efforts and initiatives related to supplier development within the submarine industrial base for both Columbia-class and Virginia-class boats. Electric Boat and HII collaboratively build both submarine programs. Work outlined in the contract modification is expected to be finished by June 2035. The award comes as the Navy is still finalizing negotiations with General Dynamics and HII on awards covering 10 Block VI Virginia-class and five Columbia-class submarines. Both Pentagon officials and industry executives have said these submarines will soon be put on contract, but a firm timeline remains elusive, and lawmakers have grown concerned over the holdup.
USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Service Life Extended Ahead of Inactivation: Breaking Defense reported on Saturday that the U.S. Navy will extend the service life of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) through March 2027. The service previously planned to decommission the ship in May of this year. Stars and Stripes reported on Sunday that extending USS Nimitz’s service will allow the Navy to maintain a minimum of 11 active aircraft carriers, as mandated by Congress. John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), the Navy’s next Ford-class aircraft carrier, is scheduled to be delivered by HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division early next year. USS Nimitz departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, on March 7 and is participating in Southern Seas 2026 exercises before heading to Naval Station Norfolk, in Virginia, as part of a scheduled homeport shift for the remainder of its service life. It scheduled to undergo inactivation and defueling of the reactor at NNS. The Pentagon released details in an announcement on Friday, March 13, stating that a contract was issued to HII “for advance planning and long‑lead‑time material procurement to prepare and make ready for the accomplishment of the inactivation and defueling of USS Nimitz.” Work is expected to be completed by March 2027.
REMUS May Help Solve Mine Threats In The Straight Of Hormuz: The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that recent Iranian mine-laying activity in the Strait of Hormuz is exposing gaps in the U.S. Navy’s mine countermeasure capabilities, as several of its remaining Avenger-class minesweepers head toward decommissioning. The Navy now maintains only a limited number of dedicated mine-clearing vessels, raising concerns about its ability to protect commercial shipping in the contested waterway. The service is shifting toward littoral combat ships and unmanned systems, including drone vessels that can detect or trigger mines while keeping sailors at a distance. HII is among companies advancing this transition, with its REMUS 620 unmanned water vehicle designed to locate and map mines. Breaking Defense previously reported that the REMUS line of UUVs can be operated either independently or as part of a team and are designed to a variety of missions including mine countermeasure operations.
| Social Media Highlight Of The Week
Posted Thursday on HII’s Facebook page:
“HII’s #IngallsShipbuilding division recently welcomed senior enlisted leaders from the U.S. Marine Corps for a visit focused on strengthening pathways between Marines completing active service and long-term careers in the shipbuilding industry. The visit underscored the longtime partnership between Ingalls and the Marine Corps, particularly through Ingalls’ role as the nation’s primary builder of amphibious warships. |
Amphibs Move Marines To The Mideast: USNI News reported on Wednesday that the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group is en route to the Middle East after passing through the Malacca Strait from its Japanese homeport. The ready group includes America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) and San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks USS San Diego (LPD 22) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18). HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division is the sole builder of America-class and San Antonio-class ships. The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that the movement of those ships – and the roughly 2,500 attached Marines deployed aboard them – come as Iran steps up its attacks on the Strait of Hormuz. The addition of a Marine Expeditionary Unit in the region provides President Donald Trump with additional options to pressure Tehran to re-open the straight to commercial traffic. Stars and Stripes reported on Thursday that the 855-foot USS Tripoli can carry MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors, F-35 fighter jets and a variety of helicopters.
John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) Supplies Support Deployed Carrier: USNI News reported Wednesday that Ford-class aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), under construction at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division, is being used to support the deployed USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78). Ford left the Red Sea this week to undergo repairs at the U.S. Navy base on Crete after a fire last week required several hours of damage control efforts. The smoke damage extended to the berthing, requiring the Navy to take 1,000 mattresses off Kennedy over the weekend to send to Ford. The New York Times reported on Monday that Ford is now entering its 10th month of deployment and will likely break the record for longest post-Vietnam War carrier deployment if it is still at sea in mid-April. Prior to the fire, the crew was told the carrier’s deployment will probably be extended into May. It was unclear how long Ford will remain at Crete for repairs.
HII’s Weekly News Digest is produced by HII’s Corporate Communications team and posted to Homeport every Friday.
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