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Company Overview
HavocAI (Providence, RI) is a defense autonomy startup founded in 2024 that positions itself as a software-first maritime autonomy company. Its core product is the autonomy stack that coordinates multiple vessels and drones through a single interface — not the hulls themselves. The company has rapidly emerged as a significant DoD supplier, with 30+ vessels delivered to US military customers by early 2026.
- HQ: Providence, RI
- Founded: 2024
- Total raised: ~$185M ($85M October 2025 + $100M Series A May 2026)
- Key investors: In-Q-Tel (CIA), Lockheed Martin Ventures, Hanwha, Outlander VC, Scout VC, B Capital, Taiwania Capital, SAIC, UP.Partners
Products
HavocAI’s product thesis is that the autonomy coordination layer — not any specific hull — is the defensible asset. They build vessels across size classes but treat them as interchangeable nodes in an autonomous fleet.
| Platform | Size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rampage | Small | Cheap, attritable, swarm-oriented; designed for mass deployment |
| 38-foot ASV | 38 ft | Mid-size tactical vessel |
| 42-foot ASV | 42 ft | Being built in partnership with PacMar Technologies |
| 200-foot ASV | 200 ft | Under development with Hanwha Defense USA and Hanwha Systems; MUSV/MASC candidate |
Autonomy Differentiator
HavocAI’s flagship capability is coordinated multi-domain autonomy — simultaneously tasking surface vessels and aerial drones through one operator interface. In December 2025, the company executed the first successful air-sea autonomy mission in a fully GPS-denied environment, demonstrated before Ukrainian officials in Portugal. This GPS-denied operation is significant: it validates the system for contested environments where adversary jamming would neutralize GPS-dependent platforms.
US DoD Relationship
- 30+ vessels delivered to US DoD customers as of early 2026
- Sales confirmed to “dozens” of DoD customers (post-rebranding from “Department of Defense” to “Department of War”)
- Metal Shark partnership for hull production
- Lockheed Martin as both investor and integration partner
Ukraine Engagement
Ukrainian officials observed the Portugal GPS-denied demonstration in December 2025. Ukraine’s own combat use of maritime drones (Magura V5, etc.) against Russia inspired the operational concept; HavocAI is pitching collaborative autonomy as the next-generation capability layer on top of that approach.
Hanwha Partnership
In January 2026, Hanwha Defense USA, Hanwha Systems, and HavocAI announced joint development of 200-foot autonomous surface vessels — a direct competitor to Saronic’s Marauder for the US Navy MASC (formerly MUSV/LUSV) program. Hanwha brings established South Korean shipbuilding relationships; HavocAI brings the autonomy software stack.
Notable Developments
- 2026-05: $100M Series A closed; total raised ~$185M
- 2026-01: 200-foot ASV partnership announced with Hanwha Defense USA and Hanwha Systems
- 2025-12: First air-sea autonomy mission in GPS-denied environment; demonstrated to Ukrainian officials
- 2025-10: $85M funding round (In-Q-Tel, Lockheed Martin Ventures, Hanwha)
- 2025: 30+ vessels delivered to US DoD; sale of dozens confirmed
- 2024: Company founded
Competitive Position
| Competitor | Overlap | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Saronic | ASV fleet for US Navy MASC/MUSV program | Saronic builds larger vessels with more proprietary shipbuilding infrastructure ($9.25B valuation vs. HavocAI's ~$200M raised); HavocAI is software-first and hull-agnostic |
| Anduril + HD Hyundai | 200-foot ASV for MASC | Similar Hanwha partnership model; Anduril’s software depth vs. HavocAI’s faster deployment track record |