Saronic Technologies has announced a $300 million investment to expand its shipyard in Franklin, Louisiana, a move aimed at significantly boosting production of its next-generation autonomous surface vessels. The major expansion is being supported by Louisiana Economic Development, St. Mary Parish, and additional state and local partners committed to strengthening the region’s maritime industrial base.
Construction on the facility upgrade began last month and will add over 300,000 square feet (27,870 square meters) of new production space. According to the company, the project is expected to be completed by late 2026, with expanded manufacturing operations scheduled to commence in early 2027. A key feature of the upgrade is a new dedicated assembly line for larger unmanned ships, including the 180-foot (55-meter) Marauder, one of Saronic’s flagship autonomous platforms.
Saronic is partnering with several major design and construction firms—JacobsWyper Architects, P2S, KPFF, JE Dunn, and Alberici—to execute the project. As the company grows its presence in the autonomous maritime sector, it continues to advance programs that align with evolving US defense modernization priorities. This expansion supports Saronic’s broader strategy to scale production of unmanned vessels designed for Navy and defense partner missions.
In October, Saronic launched a collaboration with NVIDIA to integrate high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and advanced simulation technologies into its autonomous surface vessel fleet. The partnership aims to accelerate development cycles and enhance the performance of unmanned ships operating with limited human oversight in contested or complex maritime environments. Over the past year, the company has also expanded its product range, unveiling the 24-foot (7.31 m) Corsair, its largest vessel to date, alongside the Cipher (14 ft / 4.2 m) and Spyglass (6 ft / 1.8 m) platforms—all engineered to meet operational standards set by the US Navy.
