HII acquires new manufacturing capacity for AUKUS work
The new HII manufacturing plant in South Carolina. (Photo: HII)
An existing facility in South Carolina will be turned over to work on AUKUS elements, as well as other US Navy projects.
Huntingdon Ingalls Industries (HII) has announced its acquisition of W International, a South Carolina-based complex metal fabricator that has traditionally specialised in the manufacture of shipbuilding structures, modules and assemblies.
When the dust of the acquisition settles, the W International manufacturing facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina will operate within HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.
It will support the construction of nuclear-powered submarine and aircraft carrier modules and structures for US Navy programmes.
Related Articles
Australian navy and industry to carry out maintenance on USN nuclear submarine as part of AUKUS
AUKUS nations lay out plans for joint submarine development
HII president and CEO Chris Kastner said the company was committed to increasing build rates for the US Navy, and that the new investment in capacity would help it achieve that.
“It lets us efficiently add trained talent and state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities to the urgent job of building ships, making it a unique opportunity to accelerate throughput at Newport News Shipbuilding in support of the Navy and AUKUS,” Kastner explained.
The W International assets include advanced production facilities, equipment, tooling and infrastructure used to fabricate complex metal modules and structures, all set on a 45-acre site with more than 480,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
The facility in Goose Creek will be known as Newport News Shipbuilding - Charleston Operations.
NNS is one of only two shipyards in the US capable of designing and building nuclear‐powered submarines. The AUKUS SSN programme is a tripartite endeavour, with UK submarines being built at BAE Systems’ Barrow shipyard, and Australian boats being built in Adelaide.
The UK and Australia will build their AUKUS SSNs on a common design, the successor to the current UK Astute class. The AUKUS SSN is expected to share significant design and capability elements with the new Dreadnought-class submarines.
The W International transaction, for which HII has not yet released a cost, is expected to close in Q4 2024.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
AUKUS-SSNs/SSN(R) Astute Replacement Programme [UK]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US representatives plan to invest $1.6 billion in US Coast Guard inventory in FY2026]()
US representatives plan to invest $1.6 billion in US Coast Guard inventory in FY2026
The FY26 Homeland Security Bill Markup of the House Committee on Appropriations included resources for the procurement of ships, aircraft and unmanned systems.
-
![US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs]()
US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs
The Office of Naval Research will host an Industry Engagement Day in August aiming at building new partnerships and advancing its science and technology initiatives in multiple areas.
-
![Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy]()
Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy
Under the most recent contract, the US Navy will receive four additional AN/SPY-6(V) radars, increasing the number of radars under contract to 42. The radars are considered key for expanding the navy’s capability for air defence.
-
![Royal Canadian Navy’s final Harry DeWolf-class vessel to be delivered this summer]()
Royal Canadian Navy’s final Harry DeWolf-class vessel to be delivered this summer
The sixth Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is currently at the final stages of construction within Irving Shipbuilding.
