7 Military Shipbuilding Companies Supporting the U.S. Navy (2026 Update)
Military shipbuilders design, build, and deliver state-of-the-art technology that can effectively operate in the most challenging seafairing environments and execute various missions. The largest Pentagon shipbuilders are known as prime contractors because they have the experience, the talent and the knowledge for building the most difficult and technologically-advanced sea vessels in the world. See how these companies are shaping the future of U.S. naval dominance and submarine superiority.
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What Are Military Shipbuilding Contractors?
Military shipbuilding contractors are specialized companies that focus on designing, constructing, modernizing, and maintaining military vessels for naval forces. They are cornerstones in developing ships for military procurement.
These contractors collaborate with the government and military organizations, particularly the U.S. Navy, to manufacture a variety of ships, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, amphibious ships, and surface combatants. In this process, the SUPSHIPs (supervisors of shipbuilding) evaluate the construction and business practices of Navy shipbuilders operating in the private sector.
Note: The following list of military shipbuilding companies is ranked in no particular order. The selection criteria are based on a variety of factors, including market capitalization, revenue and overall industry impact. That said, while they are highly regarded in the industry, plenty of other companies also offer exceptional products and services.
Image by Derek Fountain (Huntington Ingalls Industries) from Defense News
Huntington Ingalls Industries
The largest military shipbuilding company in the U.S.
Company Overview
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) is a renowned global provider of engineering and defense technologies, contributing significantly to U.S. national security advancements. The company specializes in delivering critical capabilities such naval ships, unmanned systems, and analytics for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. With a rich history, HII plays a vital role in advancing defense capabilities and ensuring the safety of the nation.
Key Programs
- Shipboard and shore-based combat training services
- Gerald R. Ford class nuclear-powered aircraft carriers
- Virginia class nuclear-powered fast attack submarines
Notable Divisions
- Ingalls Shipbuilding has been designing and producing advanced warships for the surface Navy fleet, the U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and foreign and commercial customers since 1939.
- Newport News Shipbuilding, a part of HII, is the exclusive industrial designer, builder, and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers in the U.S. It’s one of only two shipyards with the expertise to design and build nuclear-powered submarines. In addition to the initial construction, NNS provides fleet services for these naval vessels.
Huntington Ingalls Industries 2025 Contracts
- The Navy selected HII Ingalls Shipbuilding to design and construct its future small surface combatant, with delivery slated for 2028.
- HII landed a contract worth as much as $472 million to provide engineering support for Nimitz-class and Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers.
- HII Mission Technologies secured a $147 million Navy contract to provide shipboard and shore-based combat training support services.
Why Huntington Ingalls Industries Matters to Industry
Huntington Ingalls Industries matters to the shipbuilding industry because it is the largest military shipbuilder in the U.S., one of the few companies that is capable of building nuclear submarines and invests heavily in autonomy vessels and unmanned systems.
Photo: General Dynamics
General Dynamics NASSCO
The largest shipyard on the U.S. West Coast
Company Overview
General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, known as NASSCO, is a shipbuilding company under the division of General Dynamics. With a history dating back to 1960, NASSCO has shipyards located in San Diego, Norfolk, Bremerton, and Mayport. The company specializes in the design and construction of auxiliary and support ships for the U.S. Navy, as well as oil tankers and cargo carriers for commercial markets. Notably, NASSCO generates a significant half of its revenue from ship repair work and is a major provider of repair services for the U.S. Navy’s global operations.
Key Programs
- T-AO John Lewis class replenishment oilers
- USS America (LHA 6) maintenance, modernization and repair
General Dynamics NASSCO 2025 Contracts
- The Navy awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a $1.7 billion contract to build T-AO 215 and T-AO 216 vessels for the John Lewis-class fleet replenishment oiler program.
- General Dynamics NASSCO won a potential $209 milion Navy contract for USS America (LHA 6) amphibious assault ship modernization, maintenance and repair.
- The Navy awarded General Dynamics NASSCO a potential $655 million contract for aircraft carrier shipyard availabilities and related maintenance support services.
Why General Dynamics NASSCO Matters to the Shipbuilding Industry
General Dynamics NASSCO matters to the shipbuilding industry because it is a key builder of ships that enable naval operations, including fleet oilers, aka refueling ships; expeditionary sea bases, or mobile offshore platforms; and cargo and logistics vessels. Its west coast shipyard location in San Diego provides strategic geographic balance as most shipyards are based on the east coast or Gulf coast.
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Photo: U.S. Navy
Lockheed Martin
The world’s largest defense contractor
Company Overview
Known as a prominent player in the aerospace and defense sector, Lockheed Martin has a strong foothold in the maritime industry. Its maritime offerings encompass diverse capabilities, such as directed energy, surface combat, joint all-domain operations, hypersonics, electronic warfare, cyber, CD4ISR, and AI. Over the years, the company has demonstrated its adeptness in developing and integrating intricate maritime systems for the U.S. Navy, the Royal Navy, and other naval vessels across the globe.
Key Programs
Lockheed Martin 2025 Contracts
- Lockheed Martin received a $233 million Navy award to deliver IRST21 Block II systems and initial spares to the Navy and Air National Guard.
- The Navy awarded Lockheed Martin a $647 million to deliver and support Trident II ballistic missiles.
- Lockheed Martin secured a $133 million Navy contract for systems engineering, development and testing support for the Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile program.
Why Lockheed Martin Matters to the Shipbuilding Industry
Lockheed Martin matters to the shipbuilding industry because it develops the brains and nervous systems that makes U.S. ships effective in modern warfare. It develops the combat systems and weapons that define a ship’s capabilities, the technology architecture that shipbuilders must design around and the integration layer that connects ships to the broader Pentagon network.
Photo by Rosamar from Shutterstock
BAE Systems
Europe’s largest aerospace and defense company
Company Overview
BAE Systems PLC is a leading defense contractor and systems integrator known for providing advanced aerospace, defense, and security solutions for air, land, and maritime domains. The company specializes in designing and manufacturing naval ships, submarines, and state-of-the-art combat systems and equipment. BAE Systems also offers associated services, including training solutions, maintenance and modernization programs to support ships and equipment in service worldwide and the management of supporting infrastructure. With a dominant position in the U.K. and a top six U.S. Department of Defense supplier, BAE Systems has also established a strong presence in key defense markets—Australia and Saudi Arabia.
Key Programs
- Type 26 Global Combat Ship city-class frigate for the U.K. Royal Navy
BAE Systems 2025 Contracts
- BAE Systems was awarded a $118 million contract modernization from the Navy for USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) modernization, maintenance and repair.
- The Navy awarded BAE Systems a potential $317 million deal to deliver MK 41 vertical launching systems.
- BAE Systems won a $251 million contract from the Navy for AEGIS critical system engineering and on-site technical support
Why BAE Systems Matters to the Shipbuilding Industry
BAE Systems matters to the shipbuilding industry because it plays a hybrid role. It’s both a shipbuilder and a major defense systems provider, especially strong in naval engineering, ship repair and advanced combat technologies. BAE Systems is one of the largest providers of ship repair and modernization services, particularly in the U.S. It also provides high-end systems including electronic warfare systems and naval guns and weapons.
Photo: Northrop Grumman.
Northrop Grumman
The largest builder of naval vessels
Company Overview
Northrop Grumman is focusing on developing autonomous and intelligent capabilities for marine applications, such as Large Unmanned Surface Vehicles. Northrop’s Litton Sector, previously known as Litton Industries, is the world’s largest producer of non-nuclear ships for the U.S. Navy. It specializes in designing, constructing, and renovating surface ships globally for government and commercial clients.
Key Programs
Northrop Grumman 2025 Contracts
- The Navy awarded Northrop Grumman a $422 million contract to support the Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program, or SEWIP, Block 3 electronic warfare system.
Why Northrop Grumman Matters to the Shipbuilding Industry
Northrop Grumman matters to the shipbuilding industry because it provides high-end defense technologies, mission systems and integration capabilities that modern ships depend on, even though it no longer builds ships directly. Northrop Grumman provides the advanced sensors and electronic warfare systems ships rely on, the autonomy and AI technologies shaping future fleets and the networking and cybersecurity backbone of modern naval operations.
Photo: Fincantieri
Fincantieri
Europe’s largest shipbuilder
Company Overview
Fincantieri is a ship design and manufacturing company that offers a diverse range of products, such as Postpanamax, Panama, offshore vessels, passenger ships, merchant ships, yachts, and ferries. It is a subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group, which operates under FINCANTIERI SI Spa, an Italian company specializing in providing innovative and eco-friendly solutions for the marine and industrial sectors. Fincantieri collaborates with the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and commercial shipping customers as a leading player and a trusted partner in the maritime industry.
Key Programs
Fincantieri 2025 Contracts
- The Navy awarded Fincantieri a spot on an ID/IQ contract worth as much as $2.6 billion for repair, maintenance and modernization of Littoral Combat Ships homeported in San Diego.
- Fincantieri was awarded a Special Operations Command contract option worth $22 million to produce the Combatant Craft Heavy V and associated equipment.
Why Fincantieri Matters to the Shipbuilding Industry
Fincantieri matters to the shipbuilding industry because it is one of the largest and most diversified shipbuilders in the world, with influence across commercial, cruise, and naval shipbuilding. It builds advanced warships, including frigates, submarines, and patrol vessels and support ships. Fincantieri also has a strong presence in the U.S. market through its subsidiary Fincanteri Marinette Marine.
Photo: Austal
Austal
The largest foreign-owned defense exporter
Company Overview
Austal USA is a shipbuilding company headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, with additional facilities in San Diego, Singapore, and Charlottesville, Virginia. The company specializes in utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques and equipment to produce aluminum and steel ships. The company possess expertise in designing and maintaining advanced communication, command and control, and radar systems.
Despite being a foreign-owned subsidiary by Austal from Australia, Austal USA has the ability to work independently and separately on highly-sensitive U.S. defense programs. This is made possible by a Special Security Arrangement, which enables them to operate on these projects while maintaining the necessary security protocols.
Key Programs
Austal 2025 Contracts
- Austal won a $11 million Navy contract to provide advance planning, material procurement and accomplishment of work for availabilities in support of the USS Pierre (LCS 38) littoral combat ship.
- Austal won a spot on an ID/IQ contract worth as much as $2.6 billion for San Diego-homeported Littoral Combat Ship repair, maintenance and modernization.
Why Austal Matters to the Shipbuilding Industry
Austal matters to the shipbuilding industry because it fills a specialized but critical niche: building fast, lightweight, and modular ships, especially using aluminum instead of traditional steel. This is especially valuable for missions requiring speed and agility. The company also builds vessels for flexible and fast-response naval operations and high speed and shallow water environments like coastal zones and island regions.
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