HII and GrayMatter Robotics Partner to Automate Navy Shipbuilding
Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and GrayMatter Robotics signed a memorandum of understanding on April 7 to integrate autonomous systems into shipbuilding operations. The partnership targets surface preparation, coating, and inspection work-tasks that currently demand skilled labor and strict quality adherence.
HII increased shipbuilding throughput 14% in 2025 and aims for another 15% gain in 2026. Eric Chewning, HII's Executive Vice President of Maritime Systems and Corporate Strategy, said the partnership with GrayMatter would help meet those targets without compromising quality.
What the Partnership Covers
The two companies will pursue work in four areas:
- Autonomous shipbuilding capability development
- Integration of GrayMatter technologies with HII's existing shipbuilding initiatives
- Workforce training to extend automation capabilities
- Acceleration and scaling of unmanned system production
GrayMatter's physical AI systems adapt to the high-mix, high-variability environment of shipyard production. Demonstrations at GrayMatter's headquarters showed the technology handling sandblasting, grinding, coating, and inspection work.
The Capacity Problem
The U.S. Navy's demand for ships outpaces current production capacity. Ariyan Kabir, GrayMatter's CEO and Co-Founder, said the partnership addresses this gap directly. "Bridging that gap between demand and capacity is of utmost importance-right after making sure we are delivering the right quality and consistency, and eliminating the scrap, repair, and rework."
Much of today's shipbuilding remains hands-on work. Welding has seen automation advances, but tasks like sandblasting and coating still require skilled workers following strict specifications. AI-driven systems could reduce repetitive labor while maintaining consistency.
HII's Broader Automation Strategy
HII is folding the GrayMatter partnership into its High-Yield Production Robotics (HYPR) initiative, which applies physical AI to shipbuilding processes. The company combines advanced digital tools, modernized facilities, and traditional craftsmanship to build the Navy's most complex vessels.
For executives overseeing manufacturing strategy, this partnership illustrates how AI Agents & Automation can address specific production bottlenecks. The model also shows how AI for Executives & Strategy involves identifying partners with complementary capabilities rather than building all solutions internally.
The MOU signing took place at GrayMatter Robotics' headquarters in Carson, California.
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