AV, Inc. has been awarded a $4.8 million contract through its subsidiary, VideoRay, to provide the United States Coast Guard with Mission Specialist Defender Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs).
The delivery of these underwater robotic systems is part of the service’s Force Design 2028 modernization initiative. The ROVs are designed to enhance maritime response capabilities by facilitating rapid underwater inspections, pier inspections, hull assessments, and subsurface infrastructure surveys. Additionally, the systems will support disaster response and search and rescue operations in challenging environments. The primary operational goal is to reduce the risk to human divers while simultaneously increasing fleet readiness, mission safety, and operational efficiency.
Technically, the Mission Specialist Defender is built upon a modular, open-architecture design. This engineering approach allows operators to integrate various specialized payloads, advanced sensors, and manipulators based on specific mission profiles. The system features field-swappable modules, which enables on-site maintenance and repairs to minimize downtime and maintain operational tempo.
This $4.8 million contract represents the largest portion of the $11 million executed in fiscal year 2025 for rapid autonomous fleet upgrades. The selection of these systems builds upon the company’s existing track record with U.S. and allied defense customers, which includes work with the Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR) program.
Chris Gibson, Chief Executive Officer at VideoRay, said, “The selection of the Mission Specialist Defender reinforces our ability to deliver proven technology to address the most demanding defense and security missions. Customers have come to depend on VideoRay when failure is not an option. As AV’s maritime pillar, we’re proud to contribute to the organization’s all-domain uncrewed systems strategy to ensure the safety and security of our forces.”
The acquisition aligns with the Coast Guard’s establishment of the Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Program Executive Office. This office was created to integrate robotic and unmanned technologies across missions, aiming to build a more globally ready and agile force.
Anthony Antognoli, the Coast Guard’s first RAS program executive officer, highlighted the strategic importance of these tools in a separate release issued in September 2025, saying, “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.”
