Photo caption: The world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), transits the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, March 22, 2026. Gerald R. Ford is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations to support the warfighting effectiveness, lethality and readiness of U.S. Naval Forces Europe Africa, and defend U.S., Allied and partner interests in the region. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tajh Payne)

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April 3, 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.

US Navy Commissions NNS-Built USS Massachusetts (SSN 798): The Boston Herald reported on Saturday that the U.S. Navy has commissioned USS Massachusetts (SSN 798). The Block IV boat was built at HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division and delivered to the Navy in November. The Associated Press reported on Saturday that this is the 25th Virginia-class submarine co-produced by General Dynamics Electric Boat and Newport News Shipbuilding and the fifth U.S. Navy vessel named after Massachusetts. The boat holds a crew of 147 sailors, including 39 women. Sheryl Sandberg, the former chief operating officer of Facebook, is the sponsor for Massachusetts.

Ingalls Shipbuilding Launches Destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131): WLOX reported on Thursday that HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has launched Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer George M. Neal (DDG 131) in the Pascagoula River. The ship was moved from land into the dry dock, where crews ran final checks before filling the dock with water and allowing the destroyer to float for the first time. Workboat reported on Wednesday that in the weeks leading up to launch, shipbuilders completed final structural work, secured major components, and conducted inspections to prepare the vessel for launch. DDG 131 is a Flight III destroyer, equipped with the AN/SPY-6 (V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar and the Aegis Baseline 10 combat system. The Flight III configuration is designed to improve air and missile defense capabilities and support evolving naval operations. Following launch, George M. Neal will undergo the next phase of construction, including outfitting, systems activation and testing ahead of sea trials and delivery to the U.S. Navy.

Third Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier Deploys To Middle East: The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) and its accompanying warships are deploying to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) and the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) carrier strike groups in the region. George H.W. Bush departed Naval Station Norfolk, in Virginia, on Tuesday and is expected to take more than a week to reach the region. Abraham Lincoln is operating in the Arabian Sea, and Gerald R. Ford is at port in Croatia. Stars and Stripes reported on Wednesday that Gerald R. Ford likely will go into a “record-breaking” 11th month of operations, Adm. Daryl Caudle, chief of naval operations, told an audience Tuesday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. He added that Gerald R. Ford had received a much-needed reset, including time at U.S. Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Greece for repairs following a laundry room fire last month and a port call in Split, Croatia. Meanwhile, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday that the George H.W. Bush carrier strike consists of 6,000 sailors. They will join a buildup of tens of thousands of warfighters already in the Middle East.

White House’s FY27 Defense Budget Includes $350 Billion Reconciliation Request: Inside Defense reported on Thursday that The White House Office of Management and Budget is preparing to send Congress a $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 defense budget request that relies on $350 billion in mandatory funding outside the traditional appropriations process. OMB officials said the Trump administration’s base FY27 discretionary defense request will be $1.15 trillion, accompanied by a request for $350 billion in mandatory defense spending under a second budget reconciliation bill. The “overall theme” of the budget, one official said, is “really shifting from a sustainment-based force to a force that is investing in productive expansion of the industrial base and delivery of new innovation.” The Department of Defense will seek $65.8 billion to procure 18 battle force ships and 16 non-battle force vessels as part of a broader push — across recent budget submissions and related legislation — that the administration says would fund 123 ships. Officials cast the funding as a sustained effort to rebuild U.S. shipbuilding capacity and expand the fleet, noting that the administration wants to drive more competition into the sector and increase production capacity. Senior Republicans said last week they are ready to pursue a second reconciliation bill, but House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., noted at the time it would be far from easy. While OMB is scheduled to release more detailed information tomorrow, the Pentagon is slated to hold its own budget rollout on April 21, supported by additional justification documents and public briefings.

French Submarine Launches, Recovers REMUS UUV: Naval News reported on Tuesday that a French navy Suffren-class nuclear attack submarine launched and recovered a U.S. Navy Razorback underwater drone for the first time. Developed by HII, the Razorback is a military variant of the civilian REMUS 620, designed primarily for hydrographic missions. The submarine utilized a dry deck shelter while submerged, which acted as a docking station for the UUV. The U.S. Navy already has experience with launching and recovering REMUS series UUVs from Virginia-class submarine USS Delaware (SSN 791) as part of the Yellow Moray program. The U.S. Navy crews however launch and recover the UUVs from the submarine’s torpedo tubes, which brings more flexibility.

HII’s Weekly News Digest is produced by HII’s Corporate Communications team and posted to Homeport every Friday.

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