Key Points
- The U.S. Navy awarded a $392 million manufacturing contract to Saronic, with almost $200 million instantly obligated.
- The deal was accomplished underneath the Other Transaction Authority to speed up unmanned floor vessel procurement.
The United States Navy has awarded Saronic a $392 million manufacturing contract to quickly ship drone boats underneath the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) framework.
Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan stated almost $200 million of that whole has already been obligated, because the service pushes ahead with a brand new mannequin of fast-paced, open-competition procurement for a hybrid fleet.
In a put up shared on social media, SECNAV emphasised the shift away from lengthy acquisition cycles and reliance on idea briefs. “Prototype to manufacturing in underneath 12 months. The Saronic OTA proves how we’ll construct a hybrid manned–unmanned Fleet: open competitors, actual contracts, actual {hardware} for Sailors and Marines not slides. This is now the usual,” he wrote.
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A video accompanying the announcement exhibits a quick, smooth unmanned floor vessel (USV) geared up with sensors and built-in communications antennas.
Overlaid on the footage is a direct quote from Secretary Phelan: “The Navy isn’t admiring issues from the sidelines; we’re transferring at war-footing pace. With Saronic, we went from prototype to manufacturing in underneath a yr. That’s speedy innovation, actual competitors, and fight energy in Sailors’ and Marines’ palms, not on EnergyPoints.”
The Navy’s collaboration with Saronic displays the Department of War’s push to usher in commercial-sector innovation, particularly from non-traditional protection corporations capable of ship usable {hardware} at pace.
In a press release launched following the award, Saronic stated: “We commend the Department of War and Secretary of War for opening acquisition pathways to non-traditional protection corporations and for prioritizing business options that ship shortly and successfully.”
Saronic, based mostly in Austin, Texas, makes a speciality of totally autonomous maritime floor programs. Its vessels are designed to function as distributed nodes in manned–unmanned teaming environments, with capabilities targeted on ISR (intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance), digital warfare, and low-signature maritime maneuver.
According to the Navy, the speedy fielding of those programs is a part of a broader initiative to reshape fleet operations. The use of OTA contracts permits the Department of War to bypass conventional FAR-based contract timelines, accelerating deployment timelines for pressing wants. The cope with Saronic is among the largest OTA manufacturing contracts awarded to a maritime autonomy supplier.
No detailed breakdown of the platforms, portions, or preliminary deployment schedules has but been launched.
