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Autonomous Vessels · Defense Technology · Maritime Security · Saronic
A U.S. Navy-operated Saronic Corsair autonomous surface vessel (ASV) successfully rescued two U.S. Army aviators after their AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed off the coast of Oman on June 8, 2026, marking the first publicly reported personnel recovery by an unmanned surface vessel.
This rescue, executed by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59, definitively validates Saronic's ASV technology and its recent $392 million production contract from the U.S. Navy. The 24-foot Corsair ASV, capable of carrying 1,000 pounds and operating over 1,000 nautical miles, demonstrated its utility in a critical emergency, as confirmed by CENTCOM spokesperson Navy Capt.
Tim Hawkins to Reuters. Saronic, an Austin-based company, recently secured $1.75 billion in Series D funding at a $9.25 billion valuation, fueling its expansion into larger autonomous vessels like the 180-foot Marauder MUSV.
The company aims to produce up to 20 vessels annually from its Franklin, Louisiana shipyard, positioning itself as a leader in maritime autonomy and shipbuilding to counter global maritime dominance.
