WASHINGTON -- Saronic, a Texas-based autonomous surface vessel manufacturer, has moved the first Marauder hull from initial design to on-water trials. According to a press release from Saronic, the vessel was designed, built, and launched in under a year, a pace that far exceeds that of traditional naval vessels.
Built at the company’s Franklin, Louisiana, shipyard, the Marauder can be operated fully autonomously or under remote human supervision and is designed to operate far from shore for extended periods without the additional complexities of supporting a crew or putting them in harm’s way. Marauder has a top speed of 25+ knots, a range of up to 5,400 nautical miles, and a 150-metric-ton payload capacity, configurable to accommodate up to four 40-foot or eight 20-foot ISO containers. The USV is capable of conducting various missions, including logistics, research, maritime domain awareness, and persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
At the Franklin shipyard, the second Marauder hull was flipped in March 2026 and is now being outfitted with mechanical, electrical, and autonomy systems. The third and fourth hulls are under construction.
