Maritime-autonomy company Saronic Technologies said it has closed a $1.75 billion Series D at a $9.25 billion post-money valuation, one of the largest defense-tech rounds of 2026 and another sign that capital is flowing fast into U.S. autonomous-vessel programs.
Who’s In
The round was led by Kleiner Perkins with new investors Advent International, Bessemer Venture Partners, DFJ Growth and BAM Elevate. Existing backers 8VC, Caffeinated Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Elad Gil and Franklin Templeton followed on. The new financing comes less than a year after a $600 million Series C at a $4 billion valuation.
Where The Money Goes
Saronic plans to use the proceeds to scale its supply chain and shipyards and to produce more than 20 autonomous ships a year by 2027. The company acquired its Louisiana shipyard last year and has committed $300 million to expand it, supporting roughly 1,500 jobs across the region.
Production Backdrop
The company unveiled its first 180-foot autonomous ship, Marauder, late last year, with the first hull completed in under six months. Saronic also disclosed a $392 million production contract with the U.S. Navy in 2025 and has emerged as one of the contenders for the Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel programs. See our related coverage of the Navy’s seven-vendor MUSV prototype selection and Kraken Robotics’ $615M Covelya acquisition.
What To Watch
With Anduril, Helsing and Saronic all closing nine- to ten-figure rounds in recent weeks, the autonomous-defense sector is now competing head-to-head with the largest AI infrastructure deals for capital. Watch for Saronic to announce additional Pacific-focused partnerships through 2026.
Reporting based on coverage from Saronic Technologies, CNBC and PR Newswire.