Navy Awards up to $71 Million Contract for Robots to Speed Up Ship Repairs

Gecko Robotics says its drones, climbing robots, and sensors will help cut maintenance delays as the Navy pushes toward an 80 percent readiness goal.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stockdale arrives at San Diego naval base, on Feb. 21, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Jordan Steis/U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy has signed a contract worth up to $71 million to use roaming robots to identify where ships need repairs, a step aimed at addressing maintenance bottlenecks that have been troubling the sea service.

Gecko Robotics, a Pittsburgh-based startup, announced the deal on March 17. The effort aligns with the Navy’s goal of achieving 80 percent fleet readiness, which means 80 percent of the fleet would be ready to deploy at any given time, leaving only 20 percent in maintenance or early-stage training.