Saronic Breaks Ground on Port Alpha, and Its First Build Is a Crewed Navy Landing Craft
The Navy is buying the autonomy startup as a second-source shipbuilder, and Saronic has to deliver crewed landing craft from its new Texas yard before its autonomous fleet arrives.
The Navy is buying the autonomy startup as a second-source shipbuilder, and Saronic has to deliver crewed landing craft from its new Texas yard before its autonomous fleet arrives.
Vice President JD Vance will speak Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the groundbreaking for Saronic's $3.2 billion Port Alpha shipyard in Brownsville, Texas, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Gov. Greg Abbott and Saronic chief executive Dino Mavrookas join him on stage. The initial site covers 800 acres and could grow beyond 4,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Port Alpha?
Saronic's $3.2 billion shipyard at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, on an initial 800-acre site that could grow beyond 4,000 acres. Its first phase is expected to be operational in 2028, per the Austin American-Statesman.
What will Saronic build there first?
LCU 1700 landing craft for the U.S. Navy under a firm fixed-price prototype other transaction agreement. Saronic says production starts in 2028 and first deliveries follow in 2029.
Who else won LCU 1700 work?
Conrad Shipyard of Orange, Texas, and Master Boat Builders of Coden, Alabama. The three agreements carry a combined initial construction obligation of $280.5 million, and each yard builds two or three prototype craft, per the Navy announcement reported by Baird Maritime.
What does an LCU do?
It moves troops, vehicles and cargo from ships offshore onto a beach or unimproved shoreline without a port or pier. Saronic cites a 170-ton payload and a range of roughly 1,200 nautical miles.
Why does this matter for Saronic?
Until now its Navy work has been autonomous vessels such as Corsair and Marauder. The Industrial Base Alpha newsletter called the LCU award the first contract for a maritime defense-tech startup to build a crewed naval vessel.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.