HII and C3 AI forge strategic artificial intelligence partnership to support us navy shipbuilding

Boosting US Shipbuilding Speed: HII and C3 AI Partner for AI-Driven Production

In a significant move set to accelerate the delivery of critical naval assets, HII, America’s largest military shipbuilder, and enterprise AI leader C3 AI have announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration is focused on integrating advanced digital technologies and applying artificial intelligence (AI) across HII’s shipbuilding operations, specifically at its Newport News Shipbuilding and Ingalls Shipbuilding divisions. The primary objective? To dramatically increase shipbuilding throughput and ensure the U.S. Navy receives its vessels faster.

Shipbuilding throughput is a top priority for both HII and the U.S. Navy. As HII CEO Chris Kastner emphasized, this partnership is a crucial step in leveraging data and digital capabilities like AI to support the urgent task of delivering ships. Thomas M. Siebel, Chairman and CEO of C3 AI, echoed this sentiment, highlighting C3 AI’s growing role in supporting the U.S. government and defense sector and enabling America's maritime industrial dominance through next-generation technologies.

Key Areas of AI Application

The partnership involves broadening HII’s existing relationship with C3 AI to infuse AI solutions throughout its shipbuilding processes. Key areas targeted for AI integration include:

• Planning: Optimizing complex shipbuilding schedules and workflows.
• Operations: Enhancing efficiency and coordination on the shipyard floor.
• Supply Chain: Improving visibility, predicting disruptions, and optimizing material flow.
• Labor Allocation: Strategically assigning personnel to maximize productivity and meet deadlines.

These targeted applications of AI are expected to accelerate production timelines significantly, directly supporting the U.S. Navy’s fleet readiness requirements. The collaboration also opens doors for future applications in uncrewed vehicle production and sustainment.

Demonstrated Success and Future Expansion

This strategic expansion is built upon the success of an initial six-month Enterprise AI production deployment program conducted at Ingalls Shipbuilding. During this pilot, HII teams utilized sophisticated algorithms powered by the C3 Agentic AI Platform to refine and optimize work schedules. The results demonstrated significant improvements in schedule performance, providing a clear proof of concept for the power of Enterprise AI in this complex environment.

Building on this success, the initial efforts will focus on leveraging AI to enhance planning and scheduling functions across both major shipbuilding divisions:

• Ingalls Shipbuilding: Known for constructing amphibious ships and destroyers for the U.S. Navy.
• Newport News Shipbuilding: Responsible for building the nation’s nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and nuclear-powered submarines.

Benefits and Impact

The demonstrable benefits from this partnership are clear:

• Accelerated Production: AI-driven optimization of planning, operations, supply chain, and labor allocation leads to faster shipbuilding.
• Improved Schedule Performance: As proven in the initial deployment, complex algorithms can significantly refine and improve work schedules.
• Enhanced Fleet Readiness: Delivering ships more quickly directly supports the U.S. Navy’s operational needs and readiness levels.
• Strengthened Industrial Base: Adopting advanced digital technologies and AI helps modernize and strengthen America’s defense industrial base.
• Increased Efficiency: Optimizing resource allocation and workflows reduces waste and improves overall shipyard efficiency.

A Milestone for Defense Industrial Modernization

This alliance represents a significant milestone in the digitization and modernization of America’s defense industrial base. It underscores the commitment of both HII and C3 AI to leveraging cutting-edge innovation to enhance U.S. naval capabilities and maintain a strategic edge. By applying AI to the foundational processes of shipbuilding, this partnership is poised to create a more efficient, predictable, and faster production environment, ultimately benefiting national security.

Actionable Takeaway

For those involved in large-scale, complex manufacturing or project management, the success of HII's initial AI deployment at Ingalls Shipbuilding offers a compelling case study. It demonstrates that applying Enterprise AI, specifically for optimizing intricate schedules and resource allocation, can yield significant, measurable improvements in performance. Consider how AI might be applied to your most complex scheduling, operational flow, or supply chain challenges to unlock similar efficiencies.