The U.S. Navy has boosted its contract for AI-powered robotic ship inspections to $300 million, according to a Stars and Stripes report published Oct. 21, 2026. The increase is intended to expand automated inspections that keep warships out of repair yards, shifting maintenance operations toward faster, data-driven checks.
The Navy has not released a breakdown of how the $300 million will be allocated across ships or yard periods.
“This is a key part of our strategy to maximize ship availability,” a Navy official told Stars and Stripes, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Automated inspections let us catch problems earlier and schedule repairs more efficiently, keeping ships where they belong – at sea.”
In August, Naval Surface Warfare Center Port Hueneme Division personnel tested a prototype man-overboard detection system on the Self Defense Test Ship while it was docked at Port Hueneme, California, using thermal cameras and AI video analytics.
Sources: Stars and Stripes · Stars and Stripes