Two U.S. Navy submarines—one Los Angeles-class and one Ohio-class—are using robots to help extend the life of aging engines, Steve Pykett, CEO of Fairbanks Morse Defense, told Defense One. So, Fairbanks is using cobots, or collaborative robots, that use machine learning to automate the process. Cobots are particularly useful for repeated, time-consuming welding tasks, with an experienced operator nearby to make sure everything goes well. Check out the Defense Business Brief archive here, and tell your friends and foes to subscribe! 2025 Q4 earnings highlightsThree of the biggest defense contractors held earnings calls this week.