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The US Navy has inked its largest robotics maintenance deal yet. It has partnered with Gecko Robotics to deploy AI-driven inspection systems that can improve fleet readiness and reduce costly downtime.
The five-year indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract begins with an initial award of about Rs. 450 crore ($54 million). The total value can rise to nearly Rs. 590 crore ($71 million). The deal reflects the Navy’s growing reliance on automation and data tools to manage aging vessels more efficiently.
Gecko’s robotic inspection systems and sensors will monitor the condition of naval ships. The rollout will start with 18 vessels in the US Pacific Fleet. The aim is to detect structural risks early and shorten the time spent in repair yards.
The company’s wall-crawling robots will scan internal ship surfaces and create detailed digital replicas, often called digital twins. These models will allow engineers to track wear patterns and predict failures in advance. Maintenance teams can then prioritise repairs with better accuracy.
Founder and CEO Jake Loosararian said such digitization can speed up decisions and enable fixes even while ships remain deployed. His long-term vision is to reduce traditional maintenance cycles through continuous monitoring.
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The Navy wants to achieve 80% ship readiness by 2027. At present, nearly 40% of its fleet remains unavailable at any time due to lengthy servicing cycles. Annual maintenance costs range between $13 billion and $20 billion, adding pressure on operations.
Gecko has worked with the Navy for four years. An early evaluation led to a preventive maintenance plan that impressed naval officials and paved the way for this landmark agreement.
