Gecko Robotics Wins Massive $71 Million Navy Contract

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Gecko Robotics, a private robotics company known for its vertical-climbing inspection robots, has been awarded a five-year, $71 million contract by the U.S. Navy to inspect 18 of its warships. This single contract is worth more than all the revenue Gecko has generated since its founding 10 years ago, signaling the company's rapid growth and the Navy's confidence in its technology.

Why it matters

This contract represents a major milestone for Gecko Robotics, which has been valued at over $1.25 billion as a private company. The deal highlights the increasing adoption of advanced robotics technology by the military and the potential for Gecko to expand its work with the Navy if the initial inspection program proves successful. It also raises questions about whether Gecko may soon pursue an initial public offering (IPO) to capitalize on its growth.

The details

Under the contract, Gecko's robots will inspect Navy ship components, hulls, decks, and welds that are difficult for human inspectors to access. The company claims its robots can conduct these inspections up to 50 times faster and more accurately than manual methods. Gecko will also use its Cantilever software and artificial intelligence to create digital records of each asset inspected for future reference.

• Gecko Robotics was founded 10 years ago.
• The company reached $34.5 million in total revenue by June 2024.
• Gecko's revenue grew to $60 million by the end of 2024.
• Gecko was awarded the $71 million Navy contract in March 2026.

What’s next

If the initial $71 million contract with the Navy proves successful, it's possible the Navy could expand the deal to cover more of its ships, which number over 10 times the 18 vessels currently included. Any further contract announcements would likely be published on the Department of War's daily digest.