Saronic Technologies will spend $300 million to expand its shipbuilding facilities in Franklin, Louisiana, strengthening production capacity for its growing line of autonomous surface vessels. The initiative is backed by state and regional organizations, with construction adding more than 300,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The project began last month and is scheduled to finish by late 2026, with enhanced operations expected to launch in early 2027. A key component is the establishment of a dedicated assembly line for larger vessels, including the 180-foot Marauder. Saronic has partnered with JacobsWyper Architects, P2S, KPFF, JE Dunn, and Alberici for design and construction. The company’s expansion aligns with its broader role in defense-oriented autonomous maritime technologies. Its partnership with NVIDIA, announced in October, centers on integrating AI, simulation tools, and high-performance computing to speed up the development of unmanned vessels. This collaboration supports the creation of platforms capable of operating independently in complex maritime environments. Saronic has also diversified its unmanned systems portfolio with the introduction of the Corsair, Cipher, and Spyglass—three vessels designed to meet evolving requirements of the US Navy and allied users.
