In a relatively new development, the American company Saronic is seeking to ease the U.S. Navy’s need for long-range logistical support with cost-effective, easy-to-build ships manufactured with limited to no human involvement. The technology behind this process is staggeringly complex, even though the idea is simple enough: build a ship with purely robotic input and use people only for quality assurance.

However, the company is seeking to use innovative software in legacy robotic systems to create an assembly line for basic-purpose vessels that can be built en masse.

It’s important to note that many of the technologies Saronic plans to use are being developed in-house by its own software engineers and engineering team. Once these systems are qualified for widespread use, they will be able to effectively run the factory with near-100% autonomy when it comes to manufacturing processes.

The company still understands that the logistics aspect of supplying materials to the factory would not be completely autonomous, though perhaps in the future this part of production could become autonomous as well. Saronic is a purpose-driven company that states it wants nothing more than to bring shipbuilding capability and enthusiasm back to the U.S.

“We’re going to bring shipbuilding back to the United States in a way that we haven’t seen since World War II.”-Dino Mavrookas, Saronic’s CEO and co-founder,

Bring on the Marauder

Modern problems call for modern solutions, and the Marauder is Saronic’s answer to the need for blue-sea logistics that can be deployed from the homeland to roughly 3,500 kilometers away while carrying 40 tons of cargo. This capability enables the Navy to autonomously send cargo through treacherous, contested waters in theater.

While there are currently no ocean-crossing autonomous vessels, the Marauder’s relatively smaller size allows it to be transported by other ships and deployed into various theaters. The Marauder is most certainly not the only autonomous vessel being developed for the Navy, but the 180-foot vessel offers significant capability at a lower cost for a Navy that desperately needs a dedicated long-range logistics vessel without the worry of taking casualties during resupply missions in hostile waters.

Marauder is set to be the company’s flagship product, with principal customers not only including the U.S., but also allies such as the United Kingdom and Australia. Taiwan has also recently expressed interest in the company’s focused push to develop unmanned logistics vehicles.

One of the most enticing aspects of Marauder is its range. A 3,500-kilometer range with payload, while operating completely autonomously, is something the U.S. has needed in a high-intensity environment since feasibility research began. When analyzing what a more cost-effective system like this can provide against a near-peer threat to shipping, such as China, the military can focus less on ensuring supplies get from point A to point B without taking human losses.

That is something that desperately needs to become a reality if the U.S. wants to engage in high-tempo offensive or defensive operations against a near-peer or peer threat.

Securing The Future For US Navy Logistics

“Our mission is to deliver the capacity the U.S. needs for maritime supremacy over the next hundred years. To do that, we have to move faster than anyone in the world.”-Dino Mavrookas, Saronic’s CEO and co-founder.

The securing of further funding through government contracts, such as the $392 million contract awarded last year, further proves the company’s purpose. There is active interest in this area, even outside the U.S., with major allies like the U.K. and Australia reaching out to inquire about possible contracts once Saronic’s main factory, nicknamed “Port Alpha,” comes fully online within the next few years.

This factory coming online changes the game in terms of production. A fully autonomous shipyard has never existed in either the defense or military sectors, and the ambitious goal of churning out as many ships as supply can maintain is at the bleeding edge of the company’s ambition. The company is currently planning for the landmark facility to be built in Louisiana through phased construction, with a total cost of around $3.5 billion once building is complete.

With secured funding from various government and private contracts, the future of the autonomous shipbuilder looks strong. The company hopes to drive shipbuilding back into the hands of American shipyards and create a new sense of enthusiasm in a relatively closed-off section of engineering and manufacturing. Having a plug-and-play factory that can simply have design aspects updated, then have robots build based on those specs, allows for near-unlimited creativity in terms of design and manufacturability.

The team at Saronic is motivated to deliver serious capability not just for the next 10 years, but looking forward to the next 100.

“We’re not trying to do this in America. We ARE doing this in America.”-Dino Mavrookas, Saronic’s, CEO and co-founder.