WASHINGTON, D.C., — May 3, 2026 : The U.S. Navy has awarded a $325.9 million multi-vendor contract for the procurement of up to 474 composite rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), with a total potential value of $650.1 million over a ten-year period if all options are exercised. The award, issued on April 30, 2026, was formally announced by the U.S. Department of Defense the following day.
The contract is managed by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and structured as an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) agreement. This framework allows the Navy to issue orders incrementally based on operational demand, budget allocations, and evolving mission requirements.
Contract Scope and Procurement Details
The procurement was conducted through the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment, attracting a total of 15 competitive offers. Eight U.S.-based shipbuilders were selected under the multiple-award structure, each receiving a minimum contract guarantee of $1,000 to formally activate participation.
At the time of award, the Navy obligated $8,000 from fiscal year 2024 “Other Procurement (Navy)” funds. The remaining contract value will be distributed through future delivery orders tied to specific acquisition needs. Initial production deliveries are expected to begin by July 2026.
The selected contractors and their respective locations include:
- ASIS Boats USA LLC (Ocean Craft Marine), Annapolis, Maryland
- Brig USA LLC (Fluid Marine Response), Franklinton, North Carolina
- Ghostworks Marine Inc., Holland, Michigan
- Ribcraft USA LLC, Marblehead, Massachusetts
- St. Johns Ship Building Inc., Palatka, Florida
- Structural Composites Inc., Melbourne, Florida
- United States Marine Inc., Gulfport, Mississippi
- The Whiskey Project Group USA LLC, Edenton, North Carolina
Work under the contract will be carried out at each company’s primary facilities, supporting a geographically distributed industrial base across multiple U.S. states.
Vessel Design and Technical Characteristics
The contract covers RHIB platforms in 7-meter, 9-meter, and 11-meter variants. These vessels feature a composite rigid hull paired with inflatable tubes, combining structural strength, buoyancy, and shock absorption.
The hull design incorporates a deep-V configuration, enabling improved hydrodynamic efficiency, high-speed stability, and maneuverability in rough sea conditions. Composite materials reduce overall weight while increasing durability and lowering long-term maintenance requirements.
RHIBs under this program are designed to exceed speeds of 40 knots, depending on configuration and payload. They can be powered by high-output outboard or inboard propulsion systems and support modular mission packages, including navigation radar systems, encrypted communications equipment, weapon mounts, and mission-specific integrations.
The inflatable collar enhances survivability during close-quarters operations by providing additional flotation and impact protection, particularly during boarding procedures or alongside larger vessels.
Operational Roles and Mission Applications
These vessels are intended for use by Navy expeditionary units, coastal riverine forces, and special warfare teams. Their shallow draft enables access to confined waterways, river systems, and complex coastal terrain where larger naval platforms cannot operate effectively.
Primary mission roles include:
- Visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) operations
- Troop insertion and extraction
- Maritime interdiction missions
- Search and rescue (SAR) operations
- Harbor and critical infrastructure protection
The RHIBs are also deployable from larger naval vessels, supporting rapid launch and recovery operations in dynamic maritime environments.
Strategic Context and Deployment Focus
The acquisition aligns with the Navy’s broader transition toward distributed maritime operations. This operational concept emphasizes the deployment of smaller, agile, and networked platforms to enhance flexibility, survivability, and targeting complexity for adversaries.
The expanded RHIB fleet is expected to play a key role in contested littoral zones, particularly in regions such as the Indo-Pacific. These environments require persistent presence, rapid response capabilities, and operational effectiveness in congested maritime spaces.
Additionally, the contract includes provisions for Foreign Military Sales (FMS), allowing allied and partner nations to procure similar platforms, thereby enhancing interoperability and regional maritime security cooperation.
Industrial and Long-Term Procurement Impact
By distributing production across eight manufacturers, the Navy aims to sustain and strengthen the domestic defense industrial base while ensuring consistent output capacity over the contract’s duration. The IDIQ structure provides flexibility to scale procurement based on mission demand without committing full funding upfront.
This investment reflects a continued emphasis on high-mobility, modular maritime capabilities designed to support a wide range of operations in both conventional and hybrid threat environments.
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