A deal that could change the approach to fleet maintenance
Company Gecko Robotics has signed a five-year contract with the U.S. Navy worth $71 mln. This is not just a purchase of robots — it is a bet on artificial intelligence and predictive maintenance that aims to bring the fleet closer to the goal of 80% readiness by 2027.
The deal in numbers
The contract is in an IDIQ format (indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity). Initial funding may reach $54 mln, with work beginning on 18 ships of the Pacific Fleet. Industry outlet TechCrunch calls it the largest robotics deal in U.S. Navy history.
How the robots and AI work
Robots capable of moving on vertical surfaces will inspect hulls, decks and welds. Collected data will be processed with AI to detect defects and predict repairs. According to a Gecko release, the technologies detect defects up to 50 times faster and more accurately than traditional methods.
"Creating digital twins of ships will significantly speed up decision-making on repairs."
— Jake Lusarrian, co‑founder and CEO of Gecko Robotics
Why this matters for security and for Ukraine
Currently about 40% of U.S. Navy ships remain unavailable due to lengthy maintenance; the goal is to raise this to 80% by 2027. Faster and more accurate maintenance means less downtime, better ship rotation and fewer logistical vulnerabilities — factors that directly affect operational resilience in crises.
For Ukraine this is an important signal: partners are investing in long-term maritime capability. Technologies that reduce the time and cost of maintenance free up resources for operational support and create additional opportunities for joint knowledge exchange, personnel training and the integration of advanced solutions into our structures.
Gecko has already worked with the surface fleet and the submarine programs of the Virginia and Columbia classes, which adds confidence in its capabilities and provides social proof of the approach's effectiveness.
"The largest robotics deal in U.S. Navy history."
— TechCrunch
What’s next: opportunities and limitations
The shift from reactive repair to preventive maintenance is not just about robots. It requires data integration, crew training, standards for digital twins and stable funding. If the technologies prove effective on the first 18 ships, the IDIQ format allows the solution to be scaled across a larger fleet.
Additional context: in February 2026 Ukraine received Phantom MK‑1 humanoid robots from the U.S. company Foundation for trials — a sign that advanced robotic solutions are increasingly reaching partners' arsenals and test ranges here.
In summary: this deal is not only a step in modernizing the U.S. Navy, but also a testing ground for technologies that could change maritime logistics and maintenance. Whether these investments will turn into systemic changes that benefit allies (including Ukraine) will depend on scaling, integration standards and the willingness to invest in infrastructure and personnel.
