Taiwan's National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) said on April 24 that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saronic, a US unmanned surface vessel (USV) developer, to develop autonomous maritime systems.
The collaboration will focus on AI-based target recognition and tracking, autonomous interception, obstacle avoidance, defensive barrier deployment, and multi-vessel coordination to enhance Taiwan's asymmetric maritime capabilities.
Saronic expands USV portfolio, signs US Navy contract
Saronic is currently the only USV developer certified by the US military and is expanding its product portfolio, including the 24-foot Corsair autonomous vessel and the 180-foot Marauder platform. The company is also developing platforms with longer endurance, greater payload capacity and extended range.
Saronic signed a US$200 million procurement contract with the US Navy in late 2025.
NCSIST said the partnership will include exchanges in AI command-and-control software, vessel design and system integration, as well as collaboration on autonomous USV development and supply chain capabilities. The two sides will also explore localized development and lifecycle maintenance.
Applications span patrol to wartime deployment
The institute said the cooperation extends to operational applications, enabling autonomous navigation, obstacle avoidance and intelligent decision-making.
In peacetime, the vessels could support maritime patrol, anti-smuggling operations, surveillance and search and rescue, helping improve efficiency while reducing manpower requirements. In wartime, the systems are designed to enable rapid transition between civilian and military roles.
Taiwan has been expanding development of unmanned maritime and aerial systems. In 2025, NCSIST completed multiple sea trials of its Kuai Chi unmanned vessel, validating stable operation under complex sea conditions and advancing sea-air joint operations concepts.
Modular design targets cost and flexibility
In line with the shift toward software-defined hardware, NCSIST said it plans to integrate Saronic's autonomous navigation and edge computing technologies to jointly develop modular USV platforms.
The "Lego-style" design is intended to reduce manufacturing costs, enable rapid component replacement and support remote functional upgrades. The initiative is also expected to support Taiwan's shipbuilding, electronics and software sectors in entering the global defense supply chain.
Article translated by Sherri Wang and edited by Jack Wu
