Nauticus Robotics™ and Forum Energy Technologies Expand Subsea Autonomy Through a Manufacturing and Sales Agreement
Rhea-AI Summary
Nauticus Robotics (NASDAQ: KITT) and Forum Energy Technologies (NYSE: FET) signed a Manufacturing and Sales Agreement on Dec 11, 2025 to commercialize Nauticus' Olympic Arm electric manipulator system.
Under the deal, FET will lead commercialization, manufacturing and distribution while Nauticus continues development of autonomy and intelligent control via its ToolKITT platform. Nauticus completed a commercial ToolKITT project on a Forum ROV in mid‑October 2025 and teams will refine Olympic Arm design before full commercial production to meet field reliability standards.
Positive
- Signed manufacturing agreement assigning FET commercialization and distribution
- ToolKITT commercial test completed on a Forum ROV in mid‑October 2025
- Combined strengths pair Nauticus autonomy with FET global manufacturing
Negative
- Pre‑production refinement required before full commercial production
- Reliability standards must be met to reduce mean time to failure
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
While FET was down 0.93%, key peers like NGS, OIS, RNGR and NOA showed gains between 0.18% and 3.70%, suggesting today’s slight weakness was more stock-specific than sector-driven.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 08 | Investor conference | Neutral | +2.4% | Announcement of upcoming Investor Summit Virtual Conference presentation. |
| Nov 17 | Investor conference | Neutral | +1.7% | Participation in the 17th Annual Southwest IDEAS Investor Conference. |
| Oct 06 | Earnings call timing | Neutral | +0.6% | Scheduling of Q3 2025 earnings conference call and webcast details. |
| Sep 16 | Fireside chat | Neutral | -0.4% | Announcement of participation in Water Tower Research fireside chat. |
| Aug 18 | Secondary listing | Neutral | +1.2% | Secondary listing of common stock on NYSE Texas alongside NYSE listing. |
Recent news has mostly been investor-relations and listing updates, with modestly positive price reactions, suggesting the stock has reacted constructively to routine corporate communications.
Over the last six months, Forum Energy Technologies has focused on investor outreach and capital market positioning, including multiple investor conferences and a secondary listing on NYSE Texas. Earnings communications via 10-Q filings and related 8-Ks highlighted shifting from Q2 2025 profitability to a Q3 2025 net loss amid restructuring charges. Against this backdrop, the new manufacturing and sales agreement extends FET’s subsea technology reach, complementing its existing strategy of serving oil, gas, industrial, and renewable markets with engineered equipment.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement details a manufacturing and sales agreement that pairs Nauticus’ subsea autonomy technologies with FET’s global manufacturing and distribution capabilities. It extends Forum’s presence in work-class and observation-class ROV markets, complementing its existing engineered product portfolio. In context, recent filings highlighted revenue near $196M in Q3 2025 but also a net loss, so investors may track whether this partnership supports future growth, improves utilization of subsea assets, and interacts with ongoing restructuring and capital allocation plans.
Key Terms
remotely operated vehicles technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Under the agreement, FET will lead the commercialization, manufacturing, and distribution of Nauticus' Olympic Arm™ electric manipulator system, while Nauticus continues to advance the robotics, autonomy, and intelligent control technologies that underpin next-generation subsea manipulation. The agreement brings together Nauticus' innovations in intelligent manipulation and subsea autonomy with FET's global manufacturing capability and reputation for delivering robust, field-ready, and innovative equipment.
"This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing subsea operations through all-electric technologies," said Neal Lux, CEO of FET. "With our shared development of the Olympic Arm™, we are expanding industry access to high-performance electric manipulation systems that improve reliability, reduce maintenance, and create a foundation for future intelligent control. Collaborating with Nauticus on this project provides another avenue for FET to develop differentiated technologies, grow profitable market share and successfully accomplish FET 2030."
The Nauticus ToolKITT™ autonomy platform – Nauticus' intelligent control software for underwater operations – successfully completed a commercial project on a Forum ROV off the
"The Manufacturing Agreement with FET represents an important milestone for Nauticus as we bring our intelligent manipulation technologies to the broader commercial market and advances a strategy of licensing our designs for more rapid market penetration and revenue," said John Gibson, President and CEO of Nauticus Robotics™. "While FET brings world-class manufacturing and global reach, Nauticus contributes the autonomy and intelligent control layer that transforms how subsea manipulation and operations are performed. Together, we are enabling smarter, safer, and more efficient subsea work."
As part of the manufacturing effort, Nauticus and FET are combining their respective strengths – Nauticus' expertise in robotics, autonomy, and intelligent control with FET's long-standing capability in manufacturing reliable subsea equipment. Prior to full-scale commercial production, the teams will focus on refining the Olympic Arm™ design to enhance field serviceability and reduce mean time to failure, ensuring the system meets the rigorous reliability standards required across offshore operations.
The advancement of Nauticus ToolKITT™ manipulation autonomy marks the beginning of a broader roadmap for intelligent subsea intervention. Future releases will introduce additional capabilities such as perception-driven task automation, obstacle-aware maneuvers, and real-time decision-making for complex subsea environments – enhancing safety, reducing personnel requirements, and enabling new classes of subsea missions.
About Nauticus Robotics™
Nauticus Robotics, Inc. develops autonomous robots for the ocean industries. Autonomy requires the extensive use of sensors, artificial intelligence, and effective algorithms for perception and decision allowing the robot to adapt to changing environments. The company's business model includes using robotic systems for service, selling vehicles and components, and licensing related software to both the commercial and defense business sectors. Nauticus has designed and is currently testing and certifying a new generation of vehicles to reduce operational cost and gather data to maintain and operate a wide variety of subsea infrastructure. Besides a standalone service offering and forward-facing products, Nauticus' approach to ocean robotics has also resulted in the development of a range of technology products for retrofit/upgrading traditional remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations and other third-party vehicle platforms. Nauticus' services provide customers with the necessary data collection, analytics, and subsea manipulation capabilities to support and maintain assets while reducing their operational footprint, operating cost, and greenhouse gas emissions, to improve offshore health, safety, and environmental exposure. https://nauticusrobotics.com/
About Forum Energy Technologies
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. is a global manufacturing company serving the oil, natural gas, industrial and renewable energy industries. With headquarters in
Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act"), and are intended to enjoy the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements provided by the Act as well as protections afforded by other federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include but are not limited to: the expected timing of product commercialization or new product releases; customer interest in Nauticus' products; estimated operating results and use of cash; and Nauticus' use of and needs for capital. Generally, statements that are not historical facts, including statements concerning possible or assumed future actions, business strategies, events, or results of operations, are forward-looking statements. These statements may be preceded by, followed by, or include the words "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "forecasts," "may," "will," "should," "seeks," "plans," "scheduled," "anticipates," "intends," or "continue" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements inherently involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results, or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Nauticus' management's current expectations and beliefs, as well as a number of assumptions concerning future events. There can be no assurance that the events, results, or trends identified in these forward-looking statements will occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Nauticus is not under any obligation and expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports which Nauticus has filed or will file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for a more complete discussion of the risks and uncertainties facing the Company and that could cause actual outcomes to be materially different from those indicated in the forward-looking statements made by the Company, in particular the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in documents filed from time to time with the SEC, including Nauticus' Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2025. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties, or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected. The documents filed by Nauticus with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.
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SOURCE Nauticus Robotics, Inc.
FAQ
What did Forum Energy Technologies (FET) agree to do for Nauticus on Dec 11, 2025?
How does Nauticus' ToolKITT factor into the FET manufacturing agreement?
When did Nauticus complete a commercial ToolKITT test on a Forum ROV?
Will Olympic Arm be in full production immediately after the agreement?
What investor impact does the agreement suggest for FET (NYSE: FET)?
