Saronic Technologies will pour $300 million into an expansion of its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard to boost production of autonomous surface vessels. Backed by state and parish partners, the project began last month and will add more than 300,000 square feet of industrial space. Construction wraps up in 2026, with the upgraded yard fully operational by early 2027. A dedicated line for larger vessels—including the 180-foot Marauder—is part of the new layout. The company’s design and construction partners include JacobsWyper Architects, P2S, KPFF, JE Dunn, and Alberici. The expansion strengthens Saronic’s position in the US autonomous maritime sector as it deepens work on programs aligned with US defense priorities. Its collaboration with NVIDIA aims to apply high-performance computing and AI to unmanned vessel development, enabling ships that can operate with minimal human input. Recently, Saronic broadened its portfolio with the Corsair, Cipher, and Spyglass platforms, designed to match emerging Navy requirements.
