As the U.S. Navy works to sustain and modernize its undersea capabilities, one challenge is becoming increasingly urgent:
How do you maintain decades-old, mission-critical systems faster, safer, and more reliably—without disrupting operations?
At Naval Undersea Warfare Center Keyport, this challenge is playing out in real time.
The Navy isn’t looking for moonshots. They’re looking for solutions that are deployable now.
They’re looking for solutions that can operate in constrained, security-sensitive environments. Solutions that improve safety and consistency. And solutions that deliver 30 – 50% efficiency gains without requiring a complete system overhaul.
For companies building in robotics, sensing, advanced materials, or industrial automation, this is a near-term opportunity to directly engage with a real operational need.
Where the Navy is Actively Seeking Solutions
NUWC Keyport has identified several priority areas where innovation could move quickly from concept to deployment:
Inspection and Digital Insight
Improving inspection is a top priority. Keyport is seeking high-fidelity scanning and sensing technologies that can detect defects, compare components to digital models, and verify repair quality. Longer term, these tools could enable predictive maintenance by helping teams identify how parts degrade after years in service.
Masking, Coatings, and Restoration
Surface preparation—especially part masking—remains one of the most labor-intensive and time-consuming parts of depot work. Even partial automation could unlock meaningful gains. Restoration technologies such as cold spray or additive repair, and compact coating systems are of strong interest, especially including those that work in tight or constrained spaces.
Automated Parts Cleaning
Current cleaning processes often involve hazardous chemicals and repetitive manual work. Automated, configurable systems that can handle a range of part sizes would improve both safety and consistency, with potential for scaling across multiple facilities.
Assisted Repair and Obsolescence
Fully autonomous repair isn’t always realistic in a high-mix environment, but assistive technologies can deliver immediate value. Priority areas of interest include corrosion repair, advanced subsurface inspection, circuit board diagnostics, and reverse engineering tools for legacy components with limited documentation.
Pipe Inspection Robotics
Keyport is also seeking robotic systems capable of navigating complex piping systems with small diameters. These systems must handle bends and branches while delivering reliable inspection data in confined, hard-to-access environments.
Built for Real-World Constraints
The Navy is looking for solutions that can operate effectively with:
- Limited of no WiFi connectivity
- Strict cybersecurity requirements
- Physical constraints inside active maintenance environments
Standalone, hardwired, or edge-enabled systems are especially well-positioned for adoption. If you think your technology already works in complex industrial settings, you should be talking with the team at the NW Tech Bridge.
Share What You’re Working On
At the upcoming NW Tech Bridge Showcase this May, innovators engaged with depot-ready solutions will have the opportunity to:
- Engage directly with end users at Keyport
- Better understand the operational environment
- Explore pathways to pilot and deployment
Through the NW Tech Bridge, companies can access no-cost support to navigate the defense ecosystem, refine alignment, and accelerate engagement.
The Moment to Engage
Modernizing depot operations will be driven by practical, deployable solutions that improve safety, deliver incremental gains, and integrate seamlessly into existing environments.
These solutions will be introduced by companies that are ready to solve real problems in real environments. If you’re building something that fits–even partially–this is the moment to engage.
The Northwest Tech Bridge serves as a critical connector, helps innovators navigate the defense landscape, align their solutions with real operational needs, and engage directly with end users at NUWC Keyport.