HavocAI
Rhode Island startup building software-first collaborative autonomy that turns low-cost commercial hulls into coordinated, single-operator unmanned surface vessel swarms.
Background
HavocAI was founded in January 2024 in Providence, Rhode Island, by CEO Paul Lwin, a former US Navy EA-6B Prowler pilot, and COO Joe Turner, a former surface-warfare officer. Its pitch is a software-first autonomy stack that lets one operator coordinate fleets of unmanned surface vessels — and, increasingly, air and ground systems — in GPS-denied, contested conditions.
The company says it favors cheap commercial hulls over bespoke warships; its 14-foot electric Rampage can reportedly be built ten per day, and it has fielded a 42-foot vessel, a low-profile semi-submersible, and a planned 100-foot mUSV.
By mid-2026 HavocAI reported 30-plus vessels delivered to the Defense Department and 25,000-plus autonomy testing hours.
It has signed partnerships with Lockheed Martin, Hanwha, Leidos, Metal Shark, Senesco Marine and radar firm Tocaro Blue, and acquired Mavrik and Teleo to push beyond the water.