November 13, 2026
HII Weekly News Digest for Nov. 13, 2026
Photo caption: NEW YORK (November 9, 2026) – The San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS San Antonio (LPD 17) transits the Hudson River, Nov. 9. U.S. Sailors and U.S. Marines are in New York City to participate in the annual week-long Veterans Day celebration honoring the service of U.S. service members. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Cody Beam)
Nov. 13, 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.
Ingalls Shipbuilding Partners On Navy Support Facility: The Magnolia Tribune reported on Tuesday that HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division is partnering with the U.S. Navy on a new $50 million customer support building. The 101,000-square-foot facility is being built on the shipyard’s West Bank. It will provide modern workspaces and other benefits for more than 500 U.S. Navy Supervisor of Shipbuilding (SUPSHIP) and civilian industry personnel currently supporting ship construction, testing and delivery. SUPSHIP offices in downtown Pascagoula and throughout the shipyard will be consolidated into the new building, which will also include a gym for those working at the facility. WLOX reported on Tuesday that the facility will be built on property leased from the Port of Pascagoula. The complex is expected to be completed in the summer of 2028.
Australia’s VEEM Joins NNS Supply Chain: Australia Defence Magazine reported on Wednesday that HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division has welcomed Australia-based VEEM into its Virginia-class submarine supply chain. VEEM has secured its first purchase orders to supply specialized components for U.S. Navy_ Virginia_-class submarines, marking a milestone in the AUKUS partnership. The initial purchase order is valued at $800,000. Australia Manufacturing reported on Thursday that the announcement comes as Australia undertakes increasingly complex submarine maintenance activities at HMAS Stirling. The country is also preparing to begin Submarine Rotational Force-West from late 2027, which will see the rotational presence of U.S. and U.K. nuclear-powered submarines and personnel in Western Australia.
Submarine Czar’s Optimism Grows Over 2028 Columbia-Class Boat Delivery: Defense Daily reported on Thursday that delivering the U.S. Navy’s first Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine by a goal of 2028 will be difficult, albeit achievable. Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher, director of submarine programs, said production processes have made him more optimistic that the District of Columbia (SSN 826) will be delivered on time. Speaking at the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium this week in Arlington, Va., Gaucher said he reviews production improvements with executives at HII and General Dynamics and that positive changes have made him more confident in the boat’s delivery schedule. General Dynamics is expected to achieve pressure hull complete on District of Columbia in the next one to two months. The Day reported earlier this month that General Dynamics executives were confident during the company’s third quarter earnings call the boat will be delivered in 2028. The progress continues as the Navy pursues its goal of building at least two Virginia-class submarines and one Columbia-class submarine each year.
CAO Confirmation Hearing Signals Movement In Lame-Duck Congress: Politico reported on Monday that the Senate Armed Services Committee plans to hold a confirmation hearing next week for Hung Cao, President Donald Trump’s choice for Navy secretary, in the waning days of a Republican Congress. Many Democrats likely will oppose Cao, who also will require a waiver to take on the job because the mandatory seven-year waiting period required before former military officers can take top civilian jobs in the services has not expired. Both the House and Senate must grant an exception. But that gives the House effective veto power, which it rarely has on presidential nominees. It also requires Democratic cooperation to reach the Senate’s 60-vote threshold to advance bills. Trump formally nominated Cao for the top Navy post in September. The Senate committee action is a glimmer of hope for movement in the defense space. A House-passed budget blueprint has stalled in the Senate for nearly four months. The Hill reported on Thursday that President Trump has renewed calls for the $350 billion military funding package to be passed through the Senate. Still, several House Republicans last month warned that they were ready to block a partisan reconciliation package unless the administration gets tougher on Russia.
Social Media Highlight Of The Week
Posted Wednesday on HII’s Facebook page:
“We built a career for them so they can #BuildIt for the next generation of service members who will answer the call to defend our freedoms.
Veterans represent a significant part of HII’s 46,000-strong workforce, proving their dedication to serving our Nation long after wearing their uniform.
This #VeteransDay, we celebrate our shipbuilders who once served on the ships we built or used the technologies we innovated.
We thank you for your service—then and now—and are grateful for the work you do to ensure a safer future for us all. ”
Navy Advances Unmanned Programs: Inside Defense reported on Thursday that three autonomous underwater vehicle programs being developed by the Navy are progressing toward "meaningful operational employment," the commander of submarine forces for U.S. Pacific Fleet said during the Naval Submarine League Symposium. The Orca extra-large unmanned underwater vessel, the Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform (CAMP) and the Dragonfish large-displacement UUV are all viewed by the Navy as promising additions to the undersea fleet, Rear Adm. Chris Cavanaugh said. All three systems received a funding boost from Congress’ fiscal year 2026 budget reconciliation package, which pumped $5.5 billion into unmanned surface and undersea platform initiatives and provided $1.3 billion specifically to expand UUV production.
_HII’s Weekly News Digest is produced by HII’s Corporate Communications team and posted to MyHII every Friday.
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