AeroVironment, Inc., through its wholly owned subsidiary VideoRay, has been awarded a $4.8 million contract by the United States Coast Guard to deliver Mission Specialist Defender remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The award supports the Service’s Force Design 2028 modernization initiative.
The Defender ROV will enhance Coast Guard maritime response capabilities by enabling rapid underwater inspections, pier and hull assessments, subsurface infrastructure surveys, disaster response, and search and rescue operations in challenging environments. The system reduces risks to divers while improving mission safety, operational efficiency, and fleet readiness.
“The selection of the Mission Specialist Defender reinforces our ability to deliver proven technology for the most demanding defense and security missions,” said Chris Gibson, CEO of VideoRay. “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.”
Under Force Design 2028, the Coast Guard established the Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Program Executive Office to rapidly integrate unmanned technologies across all missions. This $4.8 million award is the largest of the $11 million executed in fiscal year 2025 for rapid autonomous fleet upgrades. The Defender builds on AeroVironment’s track record with U.S. and allied defense customers, including the Navy’s Maritime Expeditionary Standoff Response (MESR) program.
Anthony Antognoli, the Coast Guard’s first RAS program executive officer, said in a separate September 2025 release: “These unmanned systems provide increased domain awareness, mitigating risk and enhancing mission success. Robotics and autonomous systems deliver agility, awareness, and adaptability, enabling us to respond faster, operate smarter, and extend our reach. We are delivering the future to the fleet today.”
