March 25, 2026
“[I]n shipbuilding, you need ten thousand tasks done once. This is why physical AI is a game-changer. We are finally at the point where we think the economics of shipbuilding will be unlocked by AI and other automated tools.”
HII Executive Vice President of Maritime Systems and Corporate Strategy
In a new interview published by War on the Rocks, HII Executive Vice President of Maritime Systems and Corporate Strategy Eric Chewning offers a behind-the-scenes look at how innovation, partnerships, artificial intelligence, robotics, and workforce investment are reshaping the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding industrial base. He also explains how American naval shipbuilding is rapidly transforming and how HII is helping lead that charge.
HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII's mission is to deliver the world's most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.
As the nation's largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII's workforce is 44,000 strong.
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