HII has secured a U.S. Navy contract worth up to $418 million to maintain elevator systems aboard aircraft carriers and amphibious ships over the next five years. Naval Sea Systems Command selected the company’s Mission Technologies division for the work, which will support vessels operating from domestic bases as well as forward-deployed locations around the world.

The agreement covers equipment that rarely attracts attention but remains essential to daily naval operations. Elevator systems move aircraft components between decks. They carry ammunition to flight crews and transport maintenance gear throughout a ship. Even a brief outage can slow work across multiple departments and affect the pace of flight operations.

Critical support role

HII will inspect elevator systems and respond to mechanical failures throughout the fleet. Specialist teams will deploy when ships need more extensive repairs, while the company trains sailors to handle routine maintenance during long deployments without relying on outside support.

Michael Lempke, president of Mission Technologies’ Global Security group, said dependable shipboard equipment remains vital for sailors and Marines carrying out missions worldwide. He added that HII will draw on more than four decades of Elevator Support Unit experience while supporting the Navy under the new agreement.

The award also expands HII’s sustainment business, an area that has grown alongside its shipbuilding operations. Beyond constructing warships, the company now provides long-term support that helps keep Navy vessels available for deployment instead of spending extended periods in maintenance.

Expanding autonomous programs

The elevator contract arrives during an active period for HII’s autonomous maritime business. In mid-June, the company delivered the first REMUS 130 unmanned underwater vehicle, introducing the latest generation of a platform that has supported undersea missions for more than 25 years.

Instead of replacing a proven design, HII refreshed the technology inside the vehicle while keeping its familiar operating concept. The updated architecture gives operators greater flexibility and allows the platform to adapt to changing mission requirements without extensive redesign work.

Momentum has continued above the surface as well. HII recently announced that its ROMULUS unmanned surface vessel will advance to the at-sea evaluation phase of the U.S. Navy‘s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel program. The vessel incorporates the company’s Odyssey Autonomous Control Solutions software, which enables operators to command autonomous platforms through a single control environment.

Beyond shipbuilding

Taken together, the recent announcements show HII broadening its role across the Navy’s modernization efforts. One program focuses on keeping aircraft carriers and amphibious ships operating without interruption. The others push deeper into autonomous technology, where unmanned vessels are expected to take on a growing share of future maritime missions.

The new maintenance contract strengthens a business that often operates behind the scenes but remains critical to fleet readiness. At the same time, developments such as REMUS 130 and ROMULUS suggest HII is positioning itself not only as the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, but also as a company looking to shape the next generation of naval operations.

Recommended Articles