US Coast Guard investing in robotics to strengthen operational capabilities

September 25, 2025, by Aida Čučuk

The US Coast Guard is set to invest nearly $350 million in robotics and autonomous systems to strengthen mission execution and operational capabilities.

The funding, provided under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), is said to include $11 million in fiscal year 2025 for immediate upgrades to critical autonomous systems.

Initial investments encompass:

$4.8 million to procure 16 VideoRay Defender remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to replace Deployable Specialized Forces’ aging fleet,
$2 million to procure six Qinetiq Squad Packable Utility Robot (SPUR) and 12 mini-SPUR robots to replace outdated unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) at Strike Teams, and
$4.3 million to purchase 125 SkyDio X10D short-range unmanned aircraft systems (SR-UAS).

The technologies are expected to meet immediate mission needs, improve personnel safety, and strengthen the Coast Guard’s capabilities to control, secure, and defend US borders and maritime approaches.

Anthony Antognoli, Executive Officer of the Coast Guard’s first RAS program, said: “These unmanned systems provide increased domain awareness, mitigating risk and enhancing mission success as the Coast Guard continues to operate in hazardous environments. The Coast Guard’s mission demands agility, awareness and adaptability. Robotics and autonomous systems deliver all three, enabling us to respond faster, operate smarter and extend our reach where it matters most. We are not waiting for the future to arrive. We are delivering it to the fleet today.”

As disclosed, the Deployable Specialized Forces will use the new ROVs for waterfront and pier inspections, hull assessments, subsurface infrastructure surveys, disaster response, and search and rescue missions.

The Strike Teams, which respond to hazardous materials spills, major marine casualties, groundings, natural disasters, chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) incidents, as well as national special security events, will reportedly use the new UGVs to access and sample air in confined spaces aboard commercial vessels.

The SR-UAS will support operations, including infrastructure inspections, environmental observation, pollution response, post-storm surveys, ice surveys, and communications, the Coast Guard revealed.

To note, the Program Executive Office for Robotics and Autonomous Systems is part of the Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 plan, which aims to fully integrate capabilities across the service. Focused on four campaigns – people, organization, contracting and acquisition, and technology – Force Design 2028 is said to be an effort to transform the Coast Guard into a more “agile, capable, and responsive force.”

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