INTERVIEW: Advancing autonomy at sea – Saronic Technologies on ASVs, production and shipyard expansion

January 15, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

As autonomous technology increasingly reshapes the maritime domain, shipbuilders and naval forces are intensifying efforts to integrate autonomous platforms alongside conventional vessels. Operational efficiency, safety, and extended mission reach have become paramount imperatives, driving innovation across both design and production pipelines. Responding to these evolving demands, American company Saronic Technologies has accelerated production of autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) to meet growing operational requirements.

Illustration; Credit: Saronic Technologies

Naval Today spoke with Saronic Technologies about the $300 million expansion of the Franklin, Louisiana, shipyard, a project that will add more than 300,000 square feet of production space. The investment is aimed at accelerating the production of the company’s ASVs, supporting rapid scaling of the autonomous fleet, and strengthening the United States’ domestic shipbuilding capability. Saronic also emphasized that autonomy is intended to complement, rather than replace, human operators.

Saronic Technologies recently announced a $300 million investment to expand the shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, adding over 300,000 square feet of new production space, three additional slips, expanded warehouses and a dedicated large-vessel production line. What were the primary strategic and market drivers behind committing such a large investment at this time?

Saronic Technologies: Saronic is investing $300 million into its Franklin, Louisiana, shipyard to accelerate production of its larger, next-generation, Autonomous Surface Vessels (ASVs) and to strengthen America’s shipbuilding capability.

This expansion is a major milestone in Saronic’s continued growth as a leader in autonomous shipbuilding. It will significantly increase production capacity for Saronic’s ASV fleet, add 1,500 skilled jobs, and strengthen the Gulf Coast’s role in the future of American maritime innovation. The investment also reflects Saronic’s collaboration with the U.S. Navy, and our ability to translate operational needs into scalable production that is aligned with the customer’s evolving needs.

When do you expect the expanded Franklin shipyard to reach full production capacity, and roughly how many autonomous vessels per year do you aim to deliver once it’s operational?

Saronic Technologies: The construction project at Franklin broke ground in November 2025 and is slated for completion by the end of 2026, with expanded operations coming online in early 2027.

As part of the expansion, the new production line is specifically intended for the build-out of your 180-foot autonomous ship, Marauder. Could you provide an update on the current status of the Marauder program – how many vessels are in construction now, and what is the expected timeline to “splash” the first one?

Saronic Technologies: At its Franklin facility, Saronic is currently constructing two Marauder vessels, having progressed from initial design to full vessel development in just six months. We expect to complete the first vessel hull by the end of the year (2025).

Saronic kicks off production of new class of autonomous ships in Louisiana

Vessels

Apart from Marauder, are there other new vessel classes or variants in development or planned now that the shipyard expansion is underway?

Saronic Technologies: The Franklin facility and Port Alpha – which is slated to be the largest and most advanced shipyard in the US, designed to produce large autonomous ships at speed and scale – together are intended to support new classes of autonomous ships and sustained growth in the ASV fleet. We are not detailing additional new vessel classes beyond this at this time.

How is Saronic collaborating with the US Navy, Marine Corps, and other defense stakeholders to refine requirements for large autonomous surface vessels?

Saronic Technologies: Saronic is collaborating with the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver autonomous capability at scale and recently announced a U.S. Navy production contract worth $392 million for the Corsair unmanned vessel.

Are there ongoing or upcoming international engagements where Saronic sees strong potential for deployment of its autonomous fleet?

Saronic Technologies: While we can’t discuss where our vessels are deployed or how they are used, Saronic’s Louisiana shipyard serves as the central hub for prototyping and rapidly producing Marauder for the U.S., its allies, and commercial customers around the world. We continue to strengthen our relationships abroad, including at our UK and Australian offices.

As autonomous surface vessels transition from experimental programs to operational fleets, the ecosystem around them is evolving just as quickly. From your perspective, what do you see as the main challenges that must be addressed to enable widespread adoption?

Saronic Technologies: From Saronic’s perspective, some of the main challenges are about how to integrate autonomy safely, reliably, and at scale into existing maritime operations. Saronic’s approach – vertically integrating designs, scaled manufacturing approach, rapidly advancing autonomy software, building reliable systems from component to full vessel, and partnering with ABS on classification and autonomy requirements – is aimed squarely at addressing these adoption challenges.

As China continues to outbuild the U.S. in shipbuilding by roughly 230:1, Saronic is a proof point that the U.S. can build, scale, and innovate in this domain. By staying the course we’re on now, Saronic demonstrates how American industry can reestablish competitiveness and ultimately outcompete with China.

Looking ahead a decade, what role do you expect large autonomous vessels, like your 180-foot class, to play in naval operations compared to today’s crewed ships?

Saronic Technologies: Saronic’s autonomy complements, rather than replaces, human operators: for commercial operators, autonomy doesn’t replace mariners, it amplifies their reach and effectiveness, turning limited crews into force multipliers. The same logic applies in defense. Large autonomous vessels like Marauder are positioned to deliver efficiency and enhance safety, keeping the warfighter further from danger and enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. Navy.