The US Navy has awarded Gecko Robotics a five-year contract valued at up to $71 million to enhance fleet maintenance and operational readiness. Under the deal, the company will deploy AI-driven analytics and robotic inspection systems to evaluate the condition of naval platforms, with initial efforts focused on 18 vessels in the US Pacific Fleet. The contract is structured as a government-wide acquisition vehicle, enabling other US military branches to leverage the same capabilities.
The move aligns with the navy’s push to improve fleet availability, with leadership targeting an 80 percent readiness rate despite ongoing challenges such as maintenance backlogs, workforce constraints, and aging ships. Gecko’s approach uses wall-climbing robots, drones, and embedded sensors to gather detailed structural data from hulls, decks, and critical components.
This data is then analyzed using artificial intelligence to detect defects and predict maintenance requirements. Compared to traditional manual inspections, the technology significantly reduces inspection timelines and minimizes reliance on drydock availability. Navy data suggests that robotic systems can uncover issues that conventional methods may miss, improving overall maintenance planning.
Gecko has already supported a wide range of platforms, including destroyers, amphibious ships, aircraft carriers, and submarine programs such as the Virginia- and Columbia-class. In one instance, its robotic inspection of a flight deck helped avoid more than three months of potential delays by identifying structural issues early in the repair cycle.
