Two submarines of the U.S. Navy, comprising one Los Angeles-class and one Ohio-class, are now employing collaborative robots, known as cobots, as part of an innovative approach to enhance the operational lifespan of their aging engines. This advancement was shared by Steve Pykett, CEO of Fairbanks Morse Defense, in an interview with Defense One.
The traditional method of maintaining these engines required skilled welders to work in confined spaces, performing hundreds of welds to address wear. Pykett noted, “To maintain that engine and keep it in service for longer and longer, we go in, we lift the crankshaft, the casing up. Conventionally, we would ask one of our skilled welders to sit inside that engine casing—there’s a two-foot opening—and weld hundreds of weld beads to build up those wear locations.” He described this process as “very high temperature, very dirty, not a pleasant experience.”
Cobots Revolutionize Engine Maintenance
By implementing cobots equipped with machine learning capabilities, Fairbanks Morse Defense is automating these labor-intensive welding tasks. This change allows operators to supervise from outside the engine, ensuring safety and efficiency. Pykett remarked, “The operator is still there outside the engine, in a safer environment. They’re monitoring, supervising, and if there’s any special cause of events, they may have to go in and investigate.”
The impact of these cobots is significant. Pykett explained that what previously took five weeks can now be completed in just five days. “In terms of being able to turn these availabilities around in a compressed schedule and get the fleet back out into theater; that’s a major win for us,” he stated. This advancement not only improves the maintenance timeline but also enhances the Navy’s operational readiness.
Fairbanks Morse Defense has already integrated automation in machining processes for original equipment. Pykett indicated plans to expand this technology for use in submarines and surface vessels. “We’re already taking that same system and developing it so we could potentially go into other confined spaces within subs and surface fleet vessels,” he said. The goal is for these cobots to navigate more complex environments autonomously, enhancing maintenance capabilities even further.
Insights from Defense Contractors
The recent earnings calls from leading defense contractors also highlighted the current state of the defense industry. Boeing reported a loss of $565 million on the Air Force’s KC-46 tanker program during Q4 of 2025. CEO Kelly Ortburg referred to it as a “bad contract,” but noted improvements in operational performance that could help fulfill future delivery commitments.
Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden emphasized the company’s investments in unmanned systems and munitions production, asserting plans to triple the production of tactical solid rocket motors by 2027 and 2030. When questioned about the Pentagon’s billion-dollar solid rocket motor contract with L3Harris, Warden explained that Northrop is not currently negotiating similar arrangements.
Meanwhile, RTX CEO Christopher Calio addressed concerns from the White House regarding munitions production. He acknowledged the urgency to increase output and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to align resources with the Department of Defense’s goals. “We made some progress in 2025… Output was up over 20 percent on a number of the critical programs, but there’s more to do,” he remarked.
In an additional development, Booz Allen Hamilton announced plans to invest $400 million in venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. This partnership aims to address operational gaps that impede the scaling of defense technologies. Steve Escaravage, head of Booz Allen Hamilton’s defense technology business, highlighted the collaboration’s goal to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions within the defense sector.
Leonardo DRS has also made strides by opening a new propulsion manufacturing facility to support Navy submarine and shipbuilding programs. Additionally, Hadrian, a startup focused on AI-driven factory solutions, plans to launch a new factory in Mesa, Arizona, dedicated to the defense and aerospace sectors. The company’s founder, Chris Power, has expressed the need to modernize outdated manufacturing facilities, which often lag behind current technological standards.
This evolving landscape in defense technology signifies a shift towards automation and modernization, with companies striving to enhance efficiencies and meet increasing demands. The introduction of cobots in engine maintenance exemplifies how innovation can improve operational effectiveness and safety within the military.
