The US Navy has awarded Gecko Robotics a five-year contract worth up to $71 million to support fleet maintenance and readiness.
Under the agreement, the company will deploy artificial intelligence and robotic systems to inspect and assess the condition of naval assets. Initial work will focus on 18 ships assigned to the US Pacific Fleet.
The contract is structured as a government-wide acquisition vehicle, allowing other US military services to access Gecko’s capabilities.
The award comes as the navy seeks to improve operational availability. The Chief of Naval Operations has set a target of achieving 80 percent fleet readiness, a benchmark that has remained challenging amid maintenance backlogs, workforce shortages, and aging platforms.
Addressing Maintenance Delays
Gecko Robotics uses wall-climbing robots, drones, and fixed sensors to collect data on ship structures, including hulls, decks, and critical components.
The data is processed using AI to identify defects and predict maintenance needs.
According to the company, the approach can significantly accelerate inspection timelines compared to traditional manual methods, which often require extensive labor and drydock availability.
US Navy data indicates robotic inspections can reduce lead times and detect structural issues not visible through conventional approaches.
Gecko has supported maintenance efforts across multiple navy platforms, including destroyers, amphibious ships, and aircraft carriers, as well as the Virginia- and Columbia-class submarine programs.
In one example, a robotic assessment of a flight deck prevented more than three months of potential maintenance delays by identifying issues earlier in the repair cycle.
Broader Push for Digital Maintenance
The contract reflects a wider push within the US Department of Defense to integrate digital tools, automation, and predictive analytics into sustainment operations.
The aim is to shift from reactive maintenance to condition-based approaches, reducing downtime and costs while improving readiness.
“Readiness isn’t just a metric, it’s all that matters,” said Gecko Robotics co-founder and CEO Jake Loosararian. “This growing partnership is about how prediction, through our robotics and AI products, can support the Navy’s operational goals.”
Justin Fanelli, Chief Technology Officer for the Department of the Navy, also highlighted the need to improve efficiency in maintenance and acquisition.
“Where value hasn’t improved, that’s where opportunity lives,” Fanelli said. “We’re now seeing solutions that make innovation adoption easier and in doing so save time, money and risk.”
