On January 21, 2026, HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division concluded an extensive series of builder’s sea trials for USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), marking the Navy’s first warship equipped with the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic weapon system. The lead Zumwalt-class destroyer arrived at the Pascagoula yard in August 2023 and was undocked in December 2024 after integration of CPS cells and replacement of twin 155 mm Advanced Gun Systems with new missile tubes. Over a five-day at-sea period, Ingalls and U.S. Navy teams validated electric propulsion performance, stealth signature management, advanced combat system interfaces and CPS launcher functionality. Brian Blanchette, president of Ingalls Shipbuilding, highlighted that these trials set the standard for modernization of sister ships USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001) and USS Lyndon B. Johnson (DDG 1002), both slated for CPS integration over the next two years.

HII’s Mission Technologies division has been selected as one of 12 awardees under the Defense Microelectronics Activity’s Advanced Technology Support Program V, a 10-year, $25.4 billion multiple-award IDIQ contract. The unit will deliver engineering solutions covering hardware reverse engineering, software assurance, prototyping, integration, testing and limited production support. Grant Hagen, president of Mission Technologies’ Warfare Systems group, noted that the contract leverages the team’s 20-year track record in microelectronics modernization to address component obsolescence and accelerate fielding of secure chips for Department of Defense and federal civilian agencies. Over the decade-long period, Mission Technologies expects to perform hundreds of task orders spanning rapid design studies to extended manufacturing runs, reinforcing HII’s broader all-domain solutions portfolio.

Following successful trials, HII will apply lessons learned on Zumwalt to future shipbuilding and modernization initiatives. The wave-piercing tumblehome hull, integrated electric drive and advanced combat suite now proven under operational conditions will inform design improvements on next-generation surface combatants. Ingalls Shipbuilding currently employs over 11,000 personnel in Pascagoula, contributing to HII’s 44,000‐strong global workforce. Investment in CPS integration facilities and specialized tooling at the yard is expected to reduce future overhaul cycle times by up to 15 percent, according to internal company estimates.

These achievements reinforce HII’s position as the nation’s largest military shipbuilder and a leading provider of defense microelectronics. By synchronizing surface combatant modernization with advanced chip assurance services, HII aims to deliver end-to-end solutions—from warship construction to the secure supply of mission-critical electronics. Over the past five years, HII has secured more than $60 billion in new awards across shipbuilding, unmanned systems, cyber and ISR, positioning the company to support evolving U.S. defense priorities through 2035 and beyond.