The U.S. Navy on April 30, 2026 — formally announced May 1 — awarded a $325.9 million multiple-award contract (MAC) to eight shipbuilders for up to 474 composite rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs). The 10-year ordering period gives the Navy a decade of flexibility to procure the Navy's primary small-boat platform from a vetted pool of eight yards, with total potential value across all options reaching $650.1 million. The award is managed by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) at the Washington Navy Yard.
What RHIBs do and why 474 of them
The rigid-hull inflatable boat is the Navy and Marine Corps' workhorse small craft. Its composite hull provides structure and impact resistance; the inflatable collar provides buoyancy and the ability to absorb contact with larger vessels during Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations. RHIB missions span nearly every naval function:
- VBSS: Maritime law enforcement and security force boarding teams launch from surface combatants and amphibious ships to conduct compliant and non-compliant boardings
- Special operations support: NSW (Naval Special Warfare) Combat Rubber Raiding Craft missions, SEAL insertion and extraction, clandestine hydrographic reconnaissance
- Harbor patrol and force protection: Naval station security, harbor access control, and anti-small-boat defense for ships in port
- Search and rescue: Man-overboard recovery, downed-aircraft survivor rescue, disaster response in coastal environments
- Utility: Inter-ship transfer of personnel and cargo in anchorages, tender service for ships with degraded boats
The Navy operates hundreds of RHIBs across the fleet — each surface combatant typically carries one or two, amphibious ships carry larger inventories, and shore installations maintain pools for training and port security. 474 boats over 10 years represents a steady recapitalization of a fleet that ages out through hard use and saltwater exposure rather than a major expansion in numbers.
Why a multiple-award instead of single-contractor
NAVSEA's decision to spread 474 boats across eight yards reflects lessons from several problematic single-source small-craft programs. When a yard closes, acquires a financial problem, or loses key workers, the Navy is exposed with no alternative supplier and sometimes no backup tooling. The MAC structure solves this: all eight yards maintain active production capacity throughout the ordering period, meaning NAVSEA can shift orders among yards based on delivery schedule, configuration requirements, or pricing performance. It also provides natural price competition — NAVSEA can use historical order data to negotiate better rates on follow-on task orders.
| RHIB Size Class | Typical Length | Primary User | Primary Mission |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-meter | 24 ft | Surface combatants, Coast Guard | VBSS, utility transfer |
| 11-meter | 36 ft | Amphibious ships, shore patrol | VBSS assault, force protection |
| Naval Special Warfare | Various (24–40 ft) | NSW units (SEALs) | SEAL delivery, hydrographic recon |
| Combatant Craft Assault | 35–40 ft | Special Boat Teams | High-speed insertion, SEAL support |
Composite hull: why it matters now
Earlier Navy RHIBs used aluminum hulls, which corrode in saltwater, require frequent maintenance, and are relatively heavy for their strength. The transition to composite (fiberglass/carbon fiber reinforced plastic) hulls reduces weight by 15–25%, dramatically cuts long-term corrosion maintenance, and allows more complex hull geometries that improve seakeeping in rough water. The MAC specifies composite construction across all configurations, which benefits yards that have invested in composite layup capacity and limits competition from traditional aluminum boat builders.
For material suppliers, this means consistent demand for marine-grade fiberglass fabric, vinylester and epoxy resins, structural foam core materials (Divinycell and similar), and the inflatable collar materials (Hypalon and PVC/polyurethane fabric). These supply chains are relatively concentrated — a small number of European and domestic manufacturers control the premium marine composite material market.
What contractors should know
The eight-yard pool is set for a decade. For non-winners, the practical path is subcontracting: outboard motor and waterjet OEMs (Mercury Marine, Yamaha, SABER/HamiltonJet, Rolls-Royce Naval Marine), electronics suppliers (navigation, communications, engine monitoring), composite material suppliers, and upholstery/cushion manufacturers all have recurring requirements across the eight yards. NAVSEA will award individual task orders against the MAC as requirements emerge — watch for DD Form 1513 task order notices on SAM.gov under the parent contract.