Saronic Technologies reports that it has completed a US$1.75 billion investment round, led by Kleiner Perkins, intended to accelerate the production of autonomous maritime platforms for both defence and commercial sectors.
The funding round, which values the company at $9.25 billion, will support the development of Port Alpha, a next-generation shipyard, alongside the expansion of existing manufacturing facilities in Louisiana and Texas.
This is expected to support Saronic’s plans to scale its portfolio of autonomous surface vessels, which includes the 7.3m Corsair and the 55m Marauder.
The company says it intends to increase its shipbuilding capacity by integrating software-defined production and advanced manufacturing capabilities at its facilities.
“The new capital will accelerate Saronic’s ability to bring that model to life, generate entirely new classes of autonomous ships and maritime capabilities, and scale US shipbuilding capacity on a timeline not seen since World War II,” said Dino Mavrookas, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Saronic.
With a headcount now exceeding 1,300, Saronic is also working on a 27,870-square-metre expansion of its Louisiana shipyard. This project is expected to create 1,500 jobs in the region.
