Saronic Technologies will spend $300 million to expand its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard, boosting manufacturing capacity for its fleet of autonomous surface vessels. Backed by local and state-level economic partners, the expansion introduces over 300,000 square feet of new facilities, with completion set for late 2026 and full-scale production beginning in early 2027. The site will feature a dedicated line for larger unmanned ships including the 180-foot Marauder. Several design and construction partners—including JacobsWyper and JE Dunn—are involved in the build-out. The expansion strengthens Saronic’s position in the autonomous maritime industry, particularly as defense customers increase demand for unmanned capabilities. A recent partnership with NVIDIA aims to integrate advanced computing, AI, and simulation technologies into new vessel designs. Over the past year, the company has also rolled out three new unmanned platforms: the 24-foot Corsair, the 14-foot Cipher, and the 6-foot Spyglass. Each system supports mission requirements for the US Navy and allied operators who seek scalable, AI-enabled maritime solutions.
