What Happened
Marauder Vessel To Integrate Blackbeard Hypersonic Capability
Defense tech firm Saronic will outfit its Marauder medium unmanned surface vessel (MUSV) with Castelion’s Blackbeard hypersonic vehicle, marking the first integration of hypersonic vehicles on an autonomous surface vessel. The partnership aims to demonstrate the capability next year, with a maritime launch demonstration slated for 2027. Saronic is expanding its Louisiana shipyard to increase production of ASVs, including the Marauder, which can carry up to 150 metric tons. The company has also started on-water trials for the Marauder and is participating in the Navy’s MUSV marketplace. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.