For over 45 years, Ingalls has supported Navy ships long after they join the fleet. This work helps make sure ships stay ready, strong, and able to fight when needed.
That work happens through the Planning Yard. A team focused not on the moment of delivery, but on the full life of the ship.
Planning Yard teams support ships that are already at sea. This includes cruisers, amphibious ships, and littoral combat ships the Navy depends on every day. Their job is to upgrade ships without slowing them down. These upgrades make ships more lethal and more survivable while they continue to deploy and train around the world. Every upgrade has to make the ship better without costing the fleet time it can’t afford to lose.
That’s why the work starts early. Sometimes, years before a ship arrives for upgrades, shipbuilders at the Planning Yard are already determining what changes are necessary and how to implement them. They create drawings and plans that show how the work should be done. They order hard-to-get parts early so crews aren’t waiting on material later. They also build material kits and ship them out so teams on site have what they need when they need it.
When the work starts, the Planning Yard stays involved. Their technical experts work side by side with Navy and maintenance teams. They help solve problems as they come up, before they cause delays or affect readiness. This is hands-on work, backed by experience and responsibility.
Planning Yard stands ready to provide emergent support anywhere in the world, at a moment’s notice. Just months ago, USS New Orleans sustained fire damage during operations at sea. Planning Yard engineers and designers deployed immediately, meeting the ship in Sasebo, Japan, to assess the damage and provide recommendations for repair.
What makes the Planning Yard different is the people. Ingalls shipbuilders are part of every step. They understand how ships are built, how systems work together, and how changes affect the ship in the real world. That knowledge helps turn fleet lessons into real upgrades that work.
This work is done in close partnership with the Navy. Each successful upgrade and deployment strengthens that trust. The result is ships that stay modern with less downtime and sailors who can count on their ships when it matters most.
The Planning Yard shows that shipbuilding doesn’t stop when a ship leaves the yard. It’s a long-term commitment. And for 45 years, Ingalls shipbuilders have been keeping that commitment, making sure the fleet stays ready for whatever comes next.