Saronic Technologies has been selected by the U.S. Navy to build Landing Craft Utility (LCU) vessels under a firm fixed-price agreement structured through an Other Transaction Authority, marking the company's expansion beyond autonomous ships into traditional naval shipbuilding. The award covers multiple LCUs and will be the first construction project at Saronic's planned Port Alpha shipyard in Brownsville, Texas. Port Alpha, unveiled in July, is scheduled to open in 2028 and will initially support vessels up to 850 feet, with potential to build ships as long as 1,200 feet. The facility is designed to produce both crewed and autonomous vessels and could eventually create up to 10,000 jobs, combining robotics, software and advanced manufacturing with traditional shipbuilding. The Navy is seeking additional LCU capacity as older landing craft are phased out; Saronic's design can carry up to 170 tons with a range of about 1,200 nautical miles. Saronic co-founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas said the award reflects a partnership built on speed, cost discipline and a modern industrial base. The company has built its reputation on unmanned surface vessels, producing more than 400 of its 24-foot Corsair craft at a facility in Austin, Texas, and previously securing a production Other Transaction award worth more than $400 million for that platform. Its 180-foot Marauder autonomous vessel reached the water less than a year after design began. Saronic expects to begin building LCUs at Port Alpha in 2028, with initial deliveries planned for 2029.
