The U.S. Coast Guard is doubling down on autonomy, with a $350 million investment in robotics and autonomous systems under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). This isn’t just another funding announcement—it’s a strategic bet on how technology will reshape the Coast Guard’s future. The first $11 million slice of the pie is already in motion, targeting critical upgrades to unmanned systems that will boost domain awareness, reduce risk, and extend operational reach.
The Coast Guard isn’t just throwing money at the problem. It’s making targeted investments in systems that solve real-world challenges. For example, $4.8 million will buy 16 VideoRay Defender remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to replace aging equipment in the Deployable Specialized Forces. These ROVs won’t just sit in a warehouse—they’ll be out in the field, conducting waterfront inspections, hull assessments, and search and rescue missions. Fewer divers in the water means fewer risks, and that’s a win for safety and efficiency.
Then there’s the $2 million allocation for QinetiQ’s Squad Packable Utility Robot (SPUR) and mini-SPUR systems. These unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) will replace outdated gear in Strike Teams, which handle everything from hazardous material spills to CBRN incidents. The new UGVs will be used to access and sample air in confined spaces aboard commercial vessels—work that’s dangerous, tedious, and often critical to mission success.
And let’s not forget the $4.3 million for 125 SkyDio X10D short-range unmanned aircraft systems (SR-UAS). These drones will support infrastructure inspections, environmental observation, pollution response, and post-storm surveys. They’ll also play a role in ice surveys and communications—tasks that, until now, have relied heavily on manned assets.
This isn’t just about buying new toys. It’s about integrating autonomy into the Coast Guard’s DNA. As Anthony Antognoli, the Coast Guard’s first RAS program executive officer, put it, “These unmanned systems provide increased domain awareness, mitigating risk and enhancing mission success as the Coast Guard continues to operate in hazardous environments.” In other words, autonomy isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a force multiplier.
The Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 plan is the blueprint for this transformation. It’s an ambitious effort to make the service more agile, capable, and responsive by focusing on people, organization, contracting, acquisition, and technology. And robotics and autonomous systems are at the heart of that vision.
So, what does this mean for the maritime industry? For starters, it signals a growing acceptance of autonomy as a critical tool for safety, efficiency, and mission success. The Coast Guard isn’t waiting for the future—it’s building it. And as it does, it’s setting a precedent for other agencies, governments, and even private sector operators to follow.
The Coast Guard’s investment in autonomy is a reminder that the future of maritime operations isn’t just about bigger, faster, or more powerful ships. It’s about smarter, more adaptable systems that can operate in environments where humans can’t—or shouldn’t—go. And that’s a trend worth watching.