The US Navy has awarded Saronic a $392 million production contract for its Corsair autonomous surface vessel (ASV).
Roughly $200 million of the funding will be provided upfront, with the entire production run expected to be completed in less than 12 months.
The move underscores the Pentagon’s broader push to fast-track acquisition processes and deploy advanced unmanned systems on timelines far shorter than those of conventional procurement programs.
Corsair was originally developed by Saronic under the Pentagon’s Replicator initiative, which seeks to field large numbers of attritable unmanned platforms to deter a potential Chinese move against Taiwan.
According to Navy officials, the vessel is intended to expand the operational reach of crewed ships while significantly reducing risk to sailors.
Measuring 24 feet (7.3 meters) in length, Corsair is Saronic’s fourth-largest autonomous surface vessel, smaller only than the 150-foot Marauder, 60-foot Cipher, and 40-foot Mirage.
The ASV can operate for up to 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 km) without refueling at speeds exceeding 35 knots, while carrying payloads of up to 1,000 pounds (453 kg).
The platform is designed to support a wide range of missions, including maritime domain awareness as well as the delivery of kinetic and non-kinetic effects.
