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Huntington Ingalls Industries has officially completed the acquisition of an advanced manufacturing facility in Charleston, South Carolina, expanding its Newport News Shipbuilding – Charleston operations.
This move enhances Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) capacity to meet increasing demand for naval shipbuilding, particularly in support of the US Navy and the AUKUS partnership.
HII president and CEO Chris Kastner emphasised the importance of expanding operations to where skilled labour is available.
Kastner said, “HII is committed to going where the labour is to increase shipbuilding capacity and throughput for our national security customers. This acquisition allows us to efficiently integrate trained talent and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities into the urgent task of building ships, accelerating production at Newport News Shipbuilding in direct support of the Navy and AUKUS.”
Since announcing its intent to acquire the facility last month, HII has secured commitments from over 99 per cent of the existing workforce to remain on-site, ensuring continuity in the construction of nuclear-powered submarine modules and aircraft carrier units. Additionally, HII is collaborating with South Carolina’s state and regional leadership to create hundreds of new jobs as the Charleston facility scales up operations.
The acquisition provides HII with significant strategic and operational advantages, including:
- State-of-the-art production facilities with advanced manufacturing equipment and tooling for fabricating complex metal modules and structures.
- A 45-acre site with more than 480,000 square feet of manufacturing space, allowing for extensive expansion.
- Barge and rail transport access, streamlining logistics for large-scale shipbuilding projects.
- Proximity to Charleston’s growing maritime industry, strengthening ties to a highly skilled shipbuilding workforce and regional supply chains.
US Senator for South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, congratulated HII on the completion of this acquisition, saying, “This is great news for the South Carolina economy. This investment allows us to expand our manufacturing footprint more aggressively in the shipbuilding industry. If you can drive it, fly it, shoot it or float it, South Carolina makes it.”
These comments were echoed by Senator Graham’s colleague, Senator Tim Scott, who said, “The growth of our nation’s largest military shipbuilder in South Carolina underscores the pivotal role our state plays in strengthening America’s national security. The dedicated shipbuilders in the Charleston area are part of a highly skilled workforce that will propel our nation forward. This innovation and modernisation in our defence industrial base will create jobs and reinforce our state’s already robust Navy presence.”
With this acquisition, HII is positioning itself to meet increasing demands for naval shipbuilding, drive innovation in defence manufacturing and create lasting economic benefits for South Carolina and beyond.
