- The U.S. Navy awarded a $392 million production contract to Saronic, with nearly $200 million immediately obligated.
- The deal was completed under the Other Transaction Authority to accelerate unmanned surface vessel procurement.
The United States Navy has awarded Saronic a $392 million production contract to rapidly deliver drone boats under the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) framework.
Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan said nearly $200 million of that total has already been obligated, as the service pushes forward with a new model of fast-paced, open-competition procurement for a hybrid fleet.
In a post shared on social media, SECNAV emphasized the shift away from long acquisition cycles and reliance on concept briefs. “Prototype to production in under 12 months. The Saronic OTA proves how we’ll build a hybrid manned–unmanned Fleet: open competition, real contracts, real hardware for Sailors and Marines not slides. This is now the standard,” he wrote.
A video accompanying the announcement shows a fast, sleek unmanned surface vessel (USV) equipped with sensors and integrated communications antennas.
Overlaid on the footage is a direct quote from Secretary Phelan: “The Navy isn’t admiring problems from the sidelines; we’re moving at war-footing speed. With Saronic, we went from prototype to production in under a year. That’s rapid innovation, real competition, and combat power in Sailors’ and Marines’ hands, not on PowerPoints.”
The Navy’s collaboration with Saronic reflects the Department of War’s push to bring in commercial-sector innovation, especially from non-traditional defense companies able to deliver usable hardware at speed.
In a statement released following the award, Saronic said: “We commend the Department of War and Secretary of War for opening acquisition pathways to non-traditional defense companies and for prioritizing commercial solutions that deliver quickly and effectively.”
Saronic, based in Austin, Texas, specializes in fully autonomous maritime surface systems. Its vessels are designed to operate as distributed nodes in manned–unmanned teaming environments, with capabilities focused on ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), electronic warfare, and low-signature maritime maneuver.
According to the Navy, the rapid fielding of these systems is part of a broader initiative to reshape fleet operations. The use of OTA contracts allows the Department of War to bypass traditional FAR-based contract timelines, accelerating deployment timelines for urgent needs. The deal with Saronic is one of the largest OTA production contracts awarded to a maritime autonomy provider.
No detailed breakdown of the platforms, quantities, or initial deployment schedules has yet been released.