U.S. Navy Quadruples AI Robot Contract to $300 Million to Boost Fleet Readiness

The U. S. Navy has raised the ceiling on a five‑year contract with Pittsburgh‑based Gecko Robotics from $71 million to $300 million, a move aimed at speeding ship maintenance and keeping more vessels ready for deployment. Gecko’s wall‑climbing robots, already deployed on 18 Pacific Fleet ships, use AI to scan hulls, flight decks and ballast tanks for corrosion and metal loss. The company’s new Komodo robot can inspect steel beneath thick deck coatings without stripping the surface, cutting the estimated repair area on a single ship from 1,200 to 300 square feet in a recent case. Gecko estimates the technology could save up to $8 million per ship and identify problems up to 50 times faster than traditional methods. By accelerating inspections and reducing labor‑intensive work, the Navy hopes to raise fleet readiness toward 80 percent and counter China’s faster shipbuilding pace.