Florida-based MARTAC, a manufacturer of uncrewed surface vessels, has opened its first West Coast facility in San Diego. The new office, named MARTAC Innovation Center West, will operate as a hub for research, development, testing, and customer engagement, supporting advanced engineering, systems integration, and live-water demonstrations.
MARTAC Chief Technology Officer Jim Harvey said San Diego was selected because it features “the largest concentration of naval assets in the world and an unmatched community of defense innovators.” The facility will allow the company to work more closely with its customers, accelerate development timelines, and expand the reach of its autonomous maritime solutions, Harvey added.
MARTAC develops high-speed USVs typically deployed for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and swarm operations. Its product lineup includes the Mantas T12, an electric-powered naval drone approximately 12 feet long with a 140-pound payload capacity, which the U.S. government has supplied to the Philippines for South China Sea surveillance. The company’s flagship Devil Ray T38, a 38-foot platform capable of carrying 4,000 pounds at burst speeds exceeding 60 knots, recently completed an eight-day autonomous mission off California’s coast in May.
The San Diego expansion reflects the region’s growing concentration of autonomous systems and defense technology companies. The city’s proximity to major Navy and Marine Corps installations, combined with its established defense industrial base and research institutions, has made it an attractive location for firms in the uncrewed systems sector.
MARTAC also collaborates with Taiwan on joint manufacturing of its surface vessels, supporting the island’s drone defense capabilities. The company’s expansion to San Diego positions it to serve both domestic and allied defense customers from a location with direct access to Pacific Fleet operations.
The opening adds to a wave of defense technology companies establishing or expanding San Diego operations, further diversifying the region’s innovation economy beyond its traditional life sciences and telecommunications strengths.
Sources: The Defense Post, MARTAC Systems
