Jake Loosararian and Orion Correa, founders of Gecko Robotics.
Provided by: Gecko
Pittsburgh-based robotics startup Gekko Robotics announced Tuesday it has signed a $71 million contract with the U.S. Navy to speed up ship repair times as the government rushes to reindustrialize America’s aging defense systems.
The company says its robots can fly, swim and climb critical infrastructure, and use cameras and sensors to shorten a three-month process to as little as two days. Gecko also said the robot can assess required maintenance 50 times faster than other manual techniques.
“This is the kind of thing that hasn’t been possible before, and that’s why it took 18 months to get the destroyer out of dry dock,” CEO Jake Roosalian said in an interview with CNBC. “This is no longer acceptable.”
Rosarian said Gecko will support the Navy’s goal of 80% fleet readiness by 2027 and streamline ship production so soldiers can focus on combat and other threats.
The United States is increasingly relying on defense technology startups like Gecko as it seeks to modernize outdated U.S. military systems amid rising geopolitical tensions.
These companies are increasingly disrupting traditional flagship defense contractors with innovative artificial intelligence and autonomous technology solutions.
“Software alone is not enough; the ability to use artificial intelligence to predict and favor decision-making is only as good as the data input,” Roosalian said. “This is a fundamental change, and what Gecko is doing now is something no military robotics company has done before.”
Since taking office, President Donald Trump has prioritized expanding and restoring U.S. shipbuilding capacity, which has long lagged behind China. Last month, the administration released a multi-page plan to revive the ailing sector.
Gecko has been working with mining, manufacturing, energy, and defense companies for years to improve aging equipment and reduce repair times. Includes defense contractors L3 Harris Technologies and mining giant freeport mcmorran.
Gecko was last valued at $1.25 billion in a $125 million funding round in June. The two-time Disruptor 50 company ranked No. 30 on last year’s list.
