The United States Navy has launched a $392 million contract with Saronic for the fast delivery of drone boats under the Other Transaction Authority (OTA) framework.
John C. Phelan, U.S. Secretary of the Navy, said that nearly $200 million of the total has already been obligated, as the service advances with a new model for accelerated, competitive acquisition for a hybrid fleet.
“[From] prototype to production in less than 12 months. The Saronic OTA proves how we are going to build a manned-unmanned hybrid fleet: open competition, real contracts, real hardware for sailors and Marines, not PowerPoints. This is now the standard,” Phelan added in a post shared on social media.
In the announcement post, a video was also released showing an unmanned surface vessel (USV) equipped with sensors and integrated communication antennas. “The Navy is not standing on the sidelines admiring the problems; we are moving at the speed of war,” Phelan further said.
“With Saronic, we went from prototype to production in less than a year. This is rapid innovation, real competition, and combat power in the hands of sailors and Marines, not in PowerPoints.”
“We applaud the Department of Defense and the Secretary of Defense for opening acquisition pathways for non-traditional defense companies and prioritizing commercial solutions that deliver quickly and effectively,” said Saronic in a statement.
The partnership between the Navy and Saronic demonstrates the Department of Defense’s effort to incorporate innovation from the private sector, particularly from defense companies outside the traditional circuit, which are able to deliver ready-to-use equipment much more swiftly.
The latest deal with Saronic is one of the largest OTA production contracts awarded to a maritime autonomy provider, as reported by Defence Blog. However, no further details regarding the platforms, quantities, or initial deployment schedules have been disclosed.
Photo: Saronic. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
