Under the program, Sealartec will provide a complete ALR-S system for assessment aboard a Legend-class National Security Cutter, the largest and most technologically advanced class in the Coast Guard’s white-hull patrol fleet.
From US Navy Demonstration to Coast Guard Evaluation
The US Coast Guard program builds on Sealartec’s successful installation and demonstration of the same core ALR-S technology aboard Stiletto, the US Navy’s Joint Prototyping and Experimentation Maritime test platform. During the June 2025 demonstration in Norfolk, Virginia, the system autonomously controlled the capture and recovery sequence after the small boat approached the vessel’s stern and matched its speed. US Coast Guard personnel also participated in the demonstration.
Under the new FCT contract, Sealartec will provide a complete ALR-S system for installation, testing, and operational assessment aboard a Legend-class National Security Cutter, moving the technology from a rapid Navy demonstration platform to structured evaluation on one of the Coast Guard’s most capable operational cutters.
Addressing a Difficult Maritime Operation
Stern-ramp launch and recovery is widely used by navies and coast guards, but recovering a small boat onto a moving ship becomes increasingly difficult as sea conditions rise. Relative motion between the boat and the host vessel can create high impact loads, expose crews to injury, and restrict the conditions in which a recovery can be safely completed.
Sealartec’s ALR-S is designed to automate the recovery process with minimal operator intervention. By guiding and controlling the interaction between the boat and the stern ramp, the system is intended to reduce boat-to-ship impact loads, lower the risk of equipment damage and personnel injury, and expand the operational envelope in challenging sea conditions.
Relevant to Crewed and Uncrewed Operations
Autonomous launch and recovery is essential for uncrewed maritime systems. A vessel cannot deliver fully autonomous operations if personnel are still required to handle lines or physically manage every launch and recovery evolution.
The same technology can also improve the recovery of crewed boats. Automating the most dynamic and hazardous parts of the maneuver can support safer and more repeatable operations while reducing the burden on boat crews and shipboard operators.
“We are honored to partner with the US Coast Guard under the FCT framework,” said Amitai Peleg, Co-Founder and CEO of Sealartec. “Stern-ramp recovery systems are widely used, yet all face the same challenge: safe recovery as sea states rise. While autonomous launch and recovery is essential for uncrewed systems, it can significantly improve manned recovery operations as well.”
The Foreign Comparative Testing Program
The FCT Program is managed by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. It evaluates mature, high-technology-readiness-level equipment developed by allied nations with the aim of rapidly and affordably addressing US military requirements. Selection under the FCT framework creates a formal path to assess ALR-S against a defined operational need in a US Coast Guard environment and gather the evidence required for further operational consideration.
