Coast Guard drops $350M anchor in robotics to modernize operations

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced a $350 million investment in robotics and autonomous systems to enhance mission execution and operational capabilities across its fleet. This significant funding, delivered through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, positions the Coast Guard to modernize its operations with cutting-edge technology that reduces personnel risk while expanding mission reach in hazardous environments.

What you should know: The Coast Guard has allocated $11 million for immediate upgrades to critical autonomous systems in fiscal year 2025 as the first phase of this broader robotics initiative.

Key details: Three primary technologies will receive initial funding to replace aging equipment and enhance operational capabilities.

• $4.8 million will purchase 16 VideoRay Defender remotely operated vehicles for Deployable Specialized Forces.
• $2 million is designated for Qinetiq Squad Packable Utility Robots.
• $4.3 million will acquire 125 SkyDio X10D short-range unmanned aircraft systems.

Why this matters: These investments represent the Coast Guard’s strategic shift toward autonomous operations that can reduce human exposure to dangerous conditions while maintaining mission effectiveness.

• The new systems will support waterfront inspections, hull assessments, subsurface infrastructure surveys, disaster response, and search and rescue missions.
• Unmanned ground vehicles will help Strike Teams access confined spaces during hazardous materials incidents aboard commercial vessels.
• Short-range aircraft systems will enhance infrastructure inspections, environmental monitoring, pollution response, and post-storm surveys.

What they’re saying: Coast Guard leadership emphasizes the operational advantages these systems provide in challenging environments.

• “These unmanned systems provide increased domain awareness, mitigating risk and enhancing mission success as the Coast Guard continues to operate in hazardous environments,” said Anthony Antognoli, the Coast Guard’s first robotics and autonomous systems program executive officer.
• “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.”

The big picture: This robotics investment serves as the foundation for the Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 plan, which aims to transform the service through four key campaigns: people, organization, contracting and acquisition, and technology.