Louisiana’s protection and national-security manufacturing base had been entrance and heart in January, with two accomplished transactions.  Within the first, Jeanerette-based Metallic Shark Boats, LLC offered to Miami-based Magnet Protection LLC.  Within the second, Gramercy-based Atlantic Alumina Firm LLC acquired a $450 million fairness funding from the US Division of Warfare and Harmony Sources Holdings Restricted at the side of Harmony’s majority shareholder, a fund managed by Pinnacle Asset Administration, L.P.

These offers got here on the heals of the announcement in December that Saronic Applied sciences is investing $300 million to broaden its autonomous floor vessel shipyard in Franklin. Saronic bought the shipyard from Gulf Craft in April 2025.

Magnet Protection LLC is a protection know-how firm targeted on autonomous, AI-enabled maritime platforms for fleet operations and missile protection missions. In buying Metallic Shark, Magnet Protection expects to combine its robotics and AI-enabled, software-defined methods with Metallic Shark’s well-established shipbuilding operations, workforce, and amenities. The mixed firm will provide AI-enabled unmanned floor vessels to U.S. and allied militaries, with Metallic Shark’s shipyards serving as manufacturing hubs for Magnet Protection packages, together with the U.S. Golden Fleet initiative.

Based in 1986 and beforehand led by Chris Allard, Metallic Shark has grown into one of many nation’s main builders of patrol boats, response vessels, and specialised army craft. It has delivered greater than 2,000 vessels worldwide.  The corporate operates two manufacturing amenities in Louisiana totaling greater than 125,000 sq. ft. throughout 40 acres.

The $450 million partnership between Atlantic Alumina, operator of the Atalco refinery in St. James Parish, and the US Authorities and Harmony Sources strengthens Louisiana’s position in the US important supplies provide chain.  The deal will maintain and enhance home alumina manufacturing and set up the nation’s first and solely massive scale main gallium manufacturing circuit.

The Atalco refinery is the nation’s solely working alumina refinery.  Based in 1959, the power has lengthy equipped alumina used throughout aerospace, automotive, and protection purposes. Possession of the refinery has developed over the previous decade, together with a interval beneath DADA Holdings from 2016 to 2021, earlier than London-based Harmony Sources Holdings elevated its minority place to a controlling stake.

The most recent funding—comprising $150 million from the U.S. Division of Protection and $300 million from Harmony—will fund a modernization of the Gramercy facility, together with development of the gallium manufacturing circuit. Gallium is a important enter for semiconductors, radar methods, and superior protection electronics. General, this venture will advance nationwide safety, help superior manufacturing and cut back dependence on overseas provide chains dominated by China.

Saronic’s $300 million enlargement of the previous Gulf Craft facility additionally displays rising investor and authorities deal with Louisiana-based property that help protection tech and readiness.  It can add greater than 300,000 sq. toes of manufacturing house, three extra vessel slips, expanded warehousing, and a devoted large-vessel meeting line to scale manufacturing of next-generation unmanned floor vessels, together with the 150-foot Marauder. Building is underway and anticipated to conclude in 2026, with expanded operations starting in 2027. Saronic estimates the venture will create roughly 1,500 direct jobs, whereas Louisiana Financial Improvement tasks an extra 1,700 oblique positions—greater than 3,200 complete jobs—supported throughout the Bayou Area.

Different Louisiana corporations are benefiting from contracting with protection know-how corporations on autonomous vessel development as effectively.  Based on The Maritime Govt, Boston-based Blue Water Autonomy has signed a manufacturing settlement with Conrad Shipyard, a longtime workboat and dredger builder in Conrad Metropolis, Louisiana, for a “fleet-scale” line of unmanned vessels.

G.F. Homosexual Le Breton is managing director for Chaffe & Associates Inc., chargeable for the company finance actions of the agency. Mitch Murray is a company finance analyst with the agency. Funding banking companies are offered by Chaffe Securities Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. For extra data, go to http://chaffe-associates.com.