BigBear.ai (BBAI, Financials) rose 11% to $3.23 as of 10:37 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday after the company announced it would supply its AI-powered manufacturing platform to shipbuilder Austal USA.
The platform, known as Shipyard AI, will be deployed at Austal USA's facility in Mobile, Alabama, as part of a broader modernization effort. Austal is one of the largest shipbuilders in the United States and a supplier of submarine modules to the U.S. Navy.
BigBear.ai said the software aims to streamline capacity planning and reduce production delays by optimizing the use of labor and real estate. The goal is to boost shipbuilding efficiency and maintain timely delivery of vessels under tight budget and schedule constraints.
Kevin McAleenan, chief executive of BigBear.ai, said in a statement that the collaboration will support national defense efforts and help scale submarine production capabilities. He added that Shipyard AI was developed specifically to meet the demands of shipyard planners and builders.
The partnership reflects the defense sector's increasing use of artificial intelligence and digital twin technologies to improve operations and meet Pentagon requirements for rapid naval force deployment.
