The US Navy has awarded Saronic a $392-million production contract to deliver its Corsair autonomous surface vessel, marking a major step in rapidly fielding unmanned maritime platforms. With roughly $200 million provided upfront, production is expected to conclude in under a year, reflecting the Pentagon’s push to bypass lengthy procurement timelines. Originally developed for the Replicator initiative, Corsair is designed to operate in large numbers, extending the reach of manned naval forces while reducing risk to sailors. Measuring 24 feet in length, the vessel can travel more than 1,000 nautical miles at speeds above 35 knots while carrying substantial payloads. Its mission set includes surveillance, logistics, and kinetic or non-kinetic operations, supporting distributed maritime operations in contested environments.
