Photo caption: U.S. Sailors man the rails on the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) during the ship’s departure from Naval Air Station North Island, San Diego, March 14, 2026. Nimitz is underway in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations as part of a scheduled homeport shift to Norfolk, Virginia. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Peter K. McHaddad)

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March 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 Unions Ratify Contract With Historic Wage Increase: Magnolia Tribune reported on Thursday that all five unions representing workers at HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding facility in Pascagoula have ratified new collective bargaining agreements running through March 8, 2031. The contract provides an immediate base wage increase of at least 18% for union-represented shipbuilders and projected total wage growth of 35% to 47% over the life of the agreement, marking the largest single wage increase in Ingalls Shipbuilding history. Company leadership said the wage increases are intended to support workforce recruitment and retention as demand for naval shipbuilding grows. Ingalls President Brian Blanchette said the agreement strengthens the partnership between the company and its represented workforce while supporting the mission to deliver ships for the U.S. Navy.

Pressure Builds To Finalize Virginia-Class Submarine Contract: Defense Daily reported on Tuesday that Rep. Joe Courtney, ranking member of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, is pressing the Defense Department to award an overdue multi-year contract covering up to 11 Block VI Virginia-class attack submarines. Courtney said the delay is creating uncertainty for shipbuilders and suppliers that rely on long-lead planning for submarine components and modules. The submarines are jointly built by General Dynamics Electric Boat and HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division. During a recent hearing, Under Secretary of War for Acquisition and Sustainment Michael Duffey said the department is working with the Navy to bring the contract to conclusion. Courtney said signing the Block VI contract would strengthen the long-term demand signal across the submarine industrial base. He also said the agreement would help U.S. shipbuilders and suppliers achieve the higher production cadence called for in the Navy’s shipbuilding plan and the Department of War’s AUKUS review. HII CEO Chris Kastner also said government leadership remains unified behind shipbuilding, while noting the department is still establishing the new direct reporting program manager office for submarines.

Pentagon Says First Six Days Of Iran War Cost $11.3B: NBC News reported on Wednesday that the first six days of U.S. military operations tied to the conflict with Iran have cost the Pentagon approximately $11.3 billion, according to briefings provided to Congress. Officials said the spending includes operational costs, weapons usage, and logistics support for deployed forces. Lawmakers are reviewing the estimate as the conflict continues. Defense officials said the figure reflects the scale of the military response during the early stages of the operation. Members of Congress are monitoring the financial impact as they evaluate future defense spending. Additional funding could be considered if operations expand or continue for an extended period.

U.S. Navy Submarines Conduct Artic Ice Exercise Milestone: Military.com reported on Wednesday that U.S. Navy submarines conducted operations under Artic ice as part of a milestone exercise marking the 100^th time submarines have operated beneath the polar ice cap. The activity is part of the Navy’s Ice Exercise, known as ICEX, which is designed to test submarine capabilities in extreme Artic conditions. The exercise allows crews to practice navigation, communications and operational maneuvers beneath the ice. Officials said the operations help demonstrate the Navy’s ability to operate submarines in challenging environments. The Artic region has gained increased strategic attention as global competition expands in the area.

Naval Operations Highlight Ongoing Demand On U.S. Fleet: National Defense reported on Tuesday that defense analysts say ongoing conflict involving Iran could place additional pressure on U.S. naval forces and fleet readiness. Experts said sustained maritime operations require ships to remain deployed for extended periods while maintaining maintenance schedules and operational availability. Analysts noted that prolonged naval activity can increase demand for ship repairs, logistics support and new vessel production. Navy Times reported on Monday that the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) recently completed a pre-deployment training exercise as the Navy prepares forces for potential operations. 13 News Now reported on Monday that the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) remains on track for an extended deployment lasting about 11 months. Officials said the deployment reflects ongoing operational requirements for carrier strike groups. The reports come as U.S. naval forces continue operations in the Middle East.

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

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