On Friday, May 1, 2026, the U.S. Navy’s Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Defense, signed eight framework agreements worth 325,944,120 USD for the delivery of up to 474 composite RHIB-class hybrid boats, or Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats.
Illustrative photo: United States Marine Inc.
The IDIQ (indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity) contracts were signed with the following companies:
- Ocean Craft Marine, part of ASIS Boats USA LLC, of Annapolis, Maryland;
- Fluid Marine Response, part of Brig USA LLC, of Franklinton, North Carolina;
- Ghostworks Marine Inc. of Holland, Michigan;
- Ribcraft USA LLC of Marblehead, Massachusetts;
- St. Johns Ship Building Inc. of Palatka, Florida;
- Structural Composites Inc. of Melbourne, Florida;
- United States Marine Inc. of Gulfport, Mississippi;
- and The Whiskey Project Group USA LLC of Edenton, North Carolina.
The contracts also include an option increasing their total value to 650,102,911 USD over their 10-year period of performance from the date of award. Each recipient received a symbolic 1,000 USD as a minimum guarantee at the time of contract award. The work will be performed at the various geographic locations listed above, and the first orders are to be completed by July 2026.
Initial funding comes from U.S. Navy other procurement funds saved from fiscal year 2024, in the amount of 8,000 USD, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on September 30, 2026. All remaining funding will be made available at the delivery-order level as competitions proceed. The contract was awarded through a competitive process via the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment, with 15 bids received.
The U.S. Navy operates various RHIB models, and the framework agreement does not specify which types will be covered by the task orders. In general, these are boats with a rigid composite hull, most often made of glass-reinforced plastic, sometimes with the addition of Kevlar, carbon fiber, or other fibers, and inflatable tubes made of durable material such as Hypalon, PVC, or polyurethane.
This gives the boat a rigid V-shaped bottom, ensuring excellent hydrodynamic properties, speed of 40–60+ knots, and comfort in waves, while the inflatable tubes provide adequate buoyancy and shock absorption from wave impacts, increasing stability and crew safety. RHIB-class boats are durable and impact-resistant, as well as lighter than fully composite boats, while offering high payload capacity and space.