Magnet Defense LLC, Miami, has completed its acquisition of Metal Shark, Jeanerette, La., adding established shipbuilding capacity to its autonomous maritime platform business, the company announced Tuesday.
Magnet Defense develops fully autonomous maritime platforms for national security fleet operations and missile defense missions. Metal Shark designs and builds maritime platforms for defense and law enforcement customers. The combined company will supply AI-enabled unmanned surface vessels to U.S. and allied militaries, with Metal Shark’s shipyards serving as production hubs for Magnet Defense programs, including the U.S. Golden Fleet initiative.
The acquisition integrates Magnet Defense’s robotics and AI-enabled, software-defined systems with Metal Shark’s shipbuilding operations, workforce, and facilities. Magnet Defense — which recently unveiled its first autonomous unmanned surface vessels, the M48 and M68 — said the move is intended to transition from prototype development to sustained production and delivery of autonomous maritime platforms at scale.
Metal Shark has more than 20 years of shipbuilding experience and has delivered more than 2,000 vessels worldwide, including more than 500 to the U.S. Navy, 600 to the U.S. Coast Guard, and additional vessels to allied military forces.
Metal Shark operates two manufacturing facilities in Louisiana totaling more than 125,000 sq. ft. across 40 acres. The facilities are supported by an engineering organization and an experienced workforce, providing immediate production capacity for Magnet Defense.
