America’s Biggest Military Shipbuilder Targets 15% Higher Shipyard Output With Robotics And AI

HII, the largest military shipbuilder in the United States, wants to increase its shipyard throughput by 15% this year as it works to deliver ships to the U.S. Navy faster.

The company plans to hire more skilled workers, upgrade its shipyards and use more technology, including robotics and physical AI. HII said its shipyards increased throughput by 14% in 2025.

Around 40 ships are now being built or modernised at HII’s Ingalls and Newport News facilities. The company says it needs more skilled workers, better production facilities and more suppliers to handle higher volumes.

HII plans more robotics in shipbuilding

HII is planning to use more physical AI as it looks for ways to speed up shipbuilding.

Physical AI refers to systems that can work in the physical world rather than simply process information. At HII’s shipyards, this could include robotics, automated production, inspection and other manufacturing work.

The company is also spending money to modernise its shipyards. HII says the upgrades will help it increase production without having to depend only on more workers and more production hours.

Its plan has three main parts: hiring and retaining skilled workers, upgrading shipyard infrastructure and expanding the industrial base that supplies the Navy’s shipbuilding programs.

More workers still needed

HII is not replacing its workforce with robotics. Skilled workers remain an important part of its plans.

The company said new collective bargaining agreements have allowed it to offer competitive wage increases. The aim is to keep experienced shipbuilders and attract more people to skilled trades.

HII is combining those efforts with investment in its shipyards as it tries to raise production.

More than 2 million hours of work to be outsourced

HII also plans to send more work to suppliers and other companies across the United States.

The company expects to outsource more than 2 million hours of work in 2026. That is 178% more than in 2024.

HII says spreading the work among more companies can increase shipbuilding capacity. It also expects the move to give small and medium-sized manufacturers more reason to hire workers and expand their production.

This distributed shipbuilding approach would allow more companies to take part in naval construction while reducing the amount of work that has to be done directly at HII’s own facilities.

References: interestingengineering, robottoday