# Gecko Robotics’ Navy ship-maintenance contract ceiling rises to $300 million, DefenseScoop reports Gecko’s president tells DefenseScoop the expansion will enable its technology to scale to the Atlantic Surface Fleet, following an initial agreement covering 18 Pacific Fleet ships. Published 2026-10-20 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/10/20/gecko-robotics-navy-ship-maintenance-contract-ceiling-rises-to/ Gecko Robotics’ Navy ship-maintenance contract ceiling is rising to $300 million from $71 million, DefenseScoop reported, citing co-founder and President Troy Demmer on the expanded value.[1] The original five-year agreement, unveiled in March by the Navy and General Services Administration, initially covered 18 Pacific Fleet ships.[1] Demmer told DefenseScoop the expansion would enable Gecko’s technology to scale to the Atlantic Surface Fleet next.[1] DefenseScoop did not report how much of the higher ceiling has been obligated.[1] Gecko’s Komodo ground robot can assess steel beneath a ship’s deck coating, Demmer told the outlet.[1] He said the coating previously had to be stripped before evaluation, a costly and time-consuming process.[1] The system uses electromagnetic acoustic transducer technology to measure steel thickness, DefenseScoop reported.[1] ## Why it matters Demmer told DefenseScoop the value lies in identifying needed repairs before a maintenance period begins, with the technology deployed while the ship is still in the water.[1] Gecko’s software helps turn the robots’ measurements into evidence Navy engineers can use to scope repairs and prioritize maintenance, the outlet reported.[1] ## Sources 1. DefenseScoop: Navy expands contract ceiling for AI-enabled repair robots (Oct. 20, 2026)