ND Defense wins first Navy shipbuilding work on USS Sam Nunn

ND Defense has landed a contract from HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding to support helicopter handling crane work on the future USS Sam Nunn, marking one of the company’s first maritime awards and its entry into U.S. Navy surface combatant production. The work adds another supplier to the Navy’s destroyer build as the ship moves through construction in Mississippi.

Why it matters: - ND Defense is moving from land systems into U.S. Navy shipbuilding, a new market for the company. - The contract adds another industrial partner to the production of the future USS Sam Nunn (DDG 133), an Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided missile destroyer. - The helicopter bridge crane supports aircraft handling, maintenance and safe helicopter operations at sea. - The award could help the maritime industrial base meet demanding Navy production schedules.

What happened: - HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding awarded ND Defense a contract to support helicopter handling crane work for the future USS Sam Nunn. - The destroyer is under construction in Pascagoula, Mississippi. - The award is among ND Defense’s first contracts in the maritime sector. - The contract marks ND Defense’s entry into U.S. Navy surface combatant production.

The details: - The helicopter bridge crane is part of the destroyer’s aviation handling system. - The crane provides overhead lifting capability for securing, maintaining and servicing embarked Navy helicopters. - The system is designed to operate in demanding at-sea conditions across a wide range of sea states. - ND Defense said it is applying decades of manufacturing discipline, quality rigor and on-time delivery focus to the maritime industrial base. - The company said its predecessor organizations delivered tens of thousands of tactical and armored vehicles for the U.S. military and allied governments. - The work will be performed at ND Defense’s West Point, Mississippi facility. - ND Defense will use its in-house fabrication, welding, paint and quality capabilities on the project.

Between the lines: - The award signals a broader diversification for ND Defense beyond its core defense manufacturing base. - The Navy’s destroyer program depends on suppliers that can meet tight schedules and quality requirements, so new entrants with industrial production experience can be useful. - Tim George, ND Defense vice president of sales and marketing, said the award reflects the company’s focus on rugged systems and customer timelines. - ND Defense has built its reputation supporting the warfighter on land and is now extending that approach to the maritime side.

What's next: - ND Defense will carry out the crane-related work in West Point as the USS Sam Nunn advances through construction. - The company appears positioned to pursue additional maritime work as it expands in naval shipbuilding. - The future USS Sam Nunn will continue toward fleet entry as one of the Navy’s most advanced surface combatants.

The bottom line: - ND Defense has opened a new chapter in Navy shipbuilding, using its manufacturing background to gain a foothold on a major destroyer program.