CNBC broadcast an exclusive interview with HII President and CEO Chris Kastner on Friday, May 24. While the 16-minute Q&A took place during Fleet Week New York on the flight deck of the HII-built aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV 11) and focused on shipbuilding, Kastner did have a few opportunities to discuss Mission Technologies.
“It’s a $2.7 billion business now,” he told “Closing Bell: Overtime” host Morgan Brennan. “It grew at 20% in the first quarter [and] grew 13% last year. … We’re very pleased with Mission Technologies.”
Asked about the division’s capabilities, Kastner said, “Think about big data, and think about AI on the edge. … It’s definitely aligned perfectly not only with the Pentagon, but with AUKUS. … With C5ISR, EW, unmanned, it’s where the Pentagon/Department of Defense is going, and we’re right in the middle of it.”
The interview concluded with a question about HII’s five- to 10-year forecast.
“So five and 10 years for us is tomorrow,” Kastner said. “But in the future … we are going to be more tech-enabled. Tech is growing faster than our shipbuilding business; it will become more a part of the portfolio. And you’ll see, I think, more of an integration between the two.”
Watch the full interview at cnbc.com.
