Beyond Human Capability

Contact Us
Linkedin-in

MARTAC and Intrepid Powerboats Announce Manufacturing Partnership to Scale Autonomous Surface Vessel Production

LuAnne Bell on June 17, 2026

Collaboration positions MARTAC to build 200–300 unmanned surface vessels per year by leveraging Florida’s world-class boatbuilding base

MELBOURNE, FL — June 17, 2026 — Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a leading provider of high-performance autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), today announced a manufacturing partnership with Intrepid Powerboats, a Florida-based premium boatbuilder. The collaboration gives MARTAC the ability to scale production of its Devil Ray USV platforms to between 200 and 300 vessels per year, meeting accelerating demand from U.S. government, allied-nation, and commercial customers.

Under the partnership, Intrepid Powerboats will apply its established production capacity, skilled marine workforce, and decades of high-performance hull manufacturing expertise to the construction of MARTAC USV platforms. The arrangement allows MARTAC to expand output rapidly without the heavy capital investment and lead time that building dedicated new production facilities would require.

The partnership is the latest demonstration of MARTAC’s scaling strategy: meeting surging demand by leveraging the depth of Florida’s established boatbuilding industry rather than building production capacity from the ground up. By partnering with experienced regional manufacturers, MARTAC converts proven commercial boatbuilding capacity into mission-ready autonomous vessel production, preserving speed, controlling cost, and reinforcing a domestic, Florida-anchored industrial base.

“This partnership shows how quickly we can scale when we tap into the talent and capacity that already exists in Florida’s marine manufacturing sector,” said Tony Smeraglinolo, Chief Executive Officer of MARTAC. “Working with a builder of Intrepid’s caliber enables us to rapidly accelerate quality production, without the lengthy process of standing up new plants. It is the right model for a moment when demand for autonomous maritime systems is growing faster than the traditional defense industrial base can respond.”

“Intrepid has spent more than four decades building some of the most capable boats on the water, right here in Florida,” said Terry McNew, President of Intrepid Powerboats. “Partnering with MARTAC lets us put that craftsmanship and capacity to work supporting national security and the broader unmanned maritime mission. It’s a natural extension of what our team does best.”

 MARTAC’s MANTAS and Devil Ray families have been fielded across multiple theaters and customer programs, and the company continues to expand to meet growing operational and procurement demand.

“Our customers don’t just need a capable platform, they need confidence that we can deliver at scale, on schedule,” said Seamus Flatley, MARTAC’s Chief Growth Officer. “This partnership is how we answer that. We’re turning Florida’s boatbuilding strength into a strategic advantage for customers at home and abroad.”

About MARTAC

MARTAC is a global leader in Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) solutions, delivering high-performance, modular and operationally-proven autonomous systems to military, security, commercial and scientific customers. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, MARTAC has a proven track record with thousands of hours operating in diverse conditions. MARTAC’s innovative fleet, including the MANTAS X-Class and Devil Ray Expeditionary Class platforms, sets the industry bar for USV endurance, reliability and operational control – combining unprecedented stability, speed and range of coverage that meet real-world mission demands. For more information, visit www.martacsystems.com

About Intrepid Powerboats

Founded in 1983, Intrepid is a Florida-based builder of premium powerboats recognized for performance, engineering, and quality. With production at its Florida facility, Intrepid is among the most respected names in American boatbuilding. Learn more at intrepidpowerboats.com. 

Media Contact

W2 Communications
[email protected]

Kimberly Brickler

LuAnne Bell on June 3, 2026

Kimberly Brickler is a seasoned finance and operations executive with more than 25 years of experience leading finance, corporate strategy & transformation, and mergers & acquisitions across the aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and technology sectors. She has successfully led and supported transactions ranging from $1 million to $4 billion, guiding organizations through complex acquisitions, divestitures, operational turnarounds, and growth initiatives.

Prior to joining MARTAC, Ms. Brickler held senior leadership roles at Sierra Space, L3Harris Technologies, and Cummins Inc.  where she led multi-billion-dollar portfolio shaping, strategic planning,  and cost optimization initiatives delivering over $200 million in sustainable savings and enterprise value improvements. During her tenure at Cummins she earned several awards as both a Six Sigma Black Belt and Master Black Belt, including the coveted Cummins’ Chairman’s Award for driving quality improvements, operational efficiencies, and risk reduction through advanced process improvement methodologies.

Ms. Brickler began her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, building a strong foundation in accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls. She holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. Most recently, she completed The Wharton School Executive Leadership Development Program.

Based on Florida’s Space Coast, Ms. Brickler is passionate about supporting the region’s economic development and innovation ecosystem through community engagement, mentorship, and philanthropy. She actively supports various organizations including Florida Institute of Technology, The Scott Center for Autism Treatment, weVENTURE Women’s Business Center, Relentless Equestrian Foundation, Space Coast Frenchie Rescue, The Parker Foundation for Autism and New Life Mission, among others.

James Flatly

LuAnne Bell on June 3, 2026

James H. (“Seamus”) Flatley, IV brings over four decades of leadership in both the defense industry and military service to MARTAC. He currently serves as the company’s Chief Growth Officer, responsible for architecting and executing MARTAC’s enterprise growth strategy across U.S. and allied defense markets as well as commercial markets.

Mr. Flatley completed a distinguished 22-year career as a combat-decorated naval aviator in the United States Navy, which culminated in command of a carrier-based fighter squadron. Following his military service, Mr. Flatley transitioned to the private sector. From 2005 to 2011, he held key roles initiating, developing, and managing aviation programs for U.S. and foreign militaries in the Middle East.

From 2011 to 2017, he served as President and Chief Business Development Officer of Linxx Global Solutions, a defense company specializing in anti-terrorism training and support services for U.S. and allied forces worldwide. At Linxx, Mr. Flatley increased revenue from $24M to $48M within two years and helped transition the company from private ownership to an employee-owned company.

From 2017 to 2025, Mr. Flatley served as Vice President, Business Development and Chief Operating Officer for IOMAX, an aerospace and defense firm delivering specialized aircraft to international partners across North Africa and the Middle East. There, he led business development efforts with key allies in the region, securing $16M in new business while pivoting the company into the U.S. market and winning $7M in new business within the first year.

Mr. Flatley is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy (B.A.) and the United States Naval War College (M.A.).  He is on the Board of Directors for the USS Yorktown Foundation.

Scott Empson

LuAnne Bell on June 3, 2026

Scott Empson has over 35 years of experience in marine production, design, engineering, and operations. He currently serves as MARTAC’s Vice  President of Production, following earlier roles as Senior Production Engineer and Production Consultant for the MARTAC Devil Ray large boat product line.

Mr. Empson served for 4 years in the United States Air Force as a Weather/Navigational Aid Electrical Technician. After his military service, he joined Boston Whaler Boats where he held numerous roles including Line Lead, Shop Foreman, New Product Manager and Senior Electrical Designer. He later joined Hell’s Bay Boatworks during its first year of operation, outfitting a new production facility and helping to grow the company’s offerings from a single product to eight additional models.

Mr. Empson also served as Director of Engineering at Edgewater Powerboats, introducing 22 new boat models over a ten-year period. While at Edgewater, he developed the patented Single Piece Infusion process that combines the hull structural system into the infusion process, reducing production time and increasing hull strength. Immediately before joining MARTAC, he was founder and partner of custom bay boat manufacturer Islamorada Boatworks, and founder/owner of Advanced Marine Electrical Design and Consulting.

Mr. Empson is a graduate of the Community College of the Air Force and Daytona State College.  He is American Boat & Yacht Council certified in all Marine Manufacturing Processes.

Jim Harvey

LuAnne Bell on June 3, 2026

As MARTAC Chief Technology Officer, Jim Harvey leads technology strategy and business development for the company’s market-leading unmanned surface vessels. He focuses on identifying, prioritizing, and guiding research, development, test, and evaluation (RDTE) efforts to drive innovation, scalability, and operational efficiency. Bridging executive vision and technical execution, he ensures emerging technologies are evaluated, integrated, and delivered responsibly to support growth, performance, and future readiness.

Mr. Harvey is a retired U.S. Navy Senior Chief and national security innovator with over two decades of service as a cryptologist at the National Security Agency and USSOCOM. As a founding member and head of the Naval Special Warfare Command Innovation Directorate (N9), he built a technology portfolio from scratch — coordinating over $400 million in funding from ONR, DARPA, SOCOM, and other resource sponsors — and co-authored maritime autonomy concepts that generated over $800 million in RDTE funding in the FY24 defense plan. His work during this period culminated in fielding the first AI-powered drone deployed in combat.

Following his Navy career, Mr. Harvey continued shaping the defense technology landscape as a Global Fires Integration Manager for the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office, leading Palantir and Anduril teams in building interoperable battle management software in support of CJADC2 — driving fires coordination at machine speed across INDOPACOM, SOCOM, and USSPACECOM. He also served as a Senior Program Manager at AeroVironment, overseeing a $50 million autonomous robotics portfolio spanning computer vision, loitering munitions, and unmanned systems development for the Office of Naval Research.

Mr. Harvey is also an award-winning independently-published author of technothrillers under the pen name J.L. Hancock, and volunteers as a National Security Entrepreneur in Residence in UC San Diego’s Start Blue and i4NS innovation programs.

MARTAC Announces Opening of Innovation Center West in San Diego, California

LuAnne Bell on June 3, 2026

New west coast facility expands MARTAC’s operational footprint and accelerates growth of autonomous maritime capabilities

San Diego, CA — June 3, 2026 — Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a leading provider of fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), today announced the opening of the MARTAC Innovation Center West in San Diego, California. The new facility marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategic expansion, strengthening its ability to serve defense, security and commercial customers across the West Coast and Pacific regions.

The MARTAC Innovation Center West will serve as a hub for research, development, testing and customer engagement, complementing MARTAC’s headquarters in Melbourne, Florida. San Diego’s deep ties to the U.S. Navy, its thriving defense technology ecosystem and its access to open-water testing environments make it the ideal location for MARTAC’s next phase of growth.

“The opening of our Innovation Center West represents a pivotal step in MARTAC’s growth strategy,” said Jim Harvey, Chief Technology Officer of MARTAC. “San Diego is home to the largest concentration of naval assets in the world and an unmatched community of defense innovators. Establishing this facility allows us to work more closely with our customers, accelerate development timelines, and expand the reach of our autonomous maritime solutions.”

The new center will support a range of activities, including advanced engineering and systems integration, live-water demonstrations of MARTAC’s autonomous vessels, customer training and mission planning and collaborative development with defense and industry partners. The facility is expected to create new jobs in the San Diego area and further cement MARTAC’s position as a leader in the rapidly growing unmanned maritime systems market.

MARTAC’s facility expansion comes at a time of accelerating demand for autonomous maritime capabilities. The U.S. Navy has outlined plans to significantly grow its fleet to include a substantial number of uncrewed vessels, and MARTAC’s combat-proven platforms—including the MANTAS™ T-series and Devil Ray™—are already in operational deployment supporting fleet operations worldwide.

“Our customers are telling us they need more capacity, faster delivery and closer collaboration,” Tony Smeraglinolo, CEO added. “The Innovation Center West answers all three. It positions MARTAC to scale alongside the growing demand for autonomous maritime systems and ensures we remain at the forefront of this critical national security capability.”

About MARTAC

MARTAC is a global leader in Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) solutions, delivering high-performance, modular and operationally-proven autonomous systems to military, security, commercial and scientific customers. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, MARTAC has a proven track record with thousands of hours operating in diverse conditions. MARTAC’s innovative fleet—including the MANTAS™ X-Class and Devil Ray™ Expeditionary Class platforms—sets the industry bar for USV endurance, reliability and operational control – combining unprecedented stability, speed and range of coverage that meet real-world mission demands. For more information, visit www.martacsystems.com.

Media Contact:

W2 Communications  [email protected] 

Eight Days, No One Aboard: What Autonomous Endurance Means for the Inspection Economy

LuAnne Bell on May 26, 2026

The technology barrier just fell. The procurement barrier hasn’t.

Two vessels. Two countries. The same month.

MARTAC announced on 5 May that its T38 Devil Ray, owned and operated by the US Navy’s Point Mugu Sea Range (Point Mugu), had completed a 192-hour autonomous mission 400 nautical miles off the California coast. Eight days, no crew, no chase boats with conditions up to sea state 5 at the peak, and averaging Sea State 3 across the mission. Single-engine operations deliberately sustained for two days at maximum range, not as a failure mode but as a demonstration of operational flexibility. COLREGS-compliant collision avoidance handled throughout.

Then, on Monday 18 May, Maritime Robotics’ Mariner X departed its headquarters at Brattørkaia in Trondheim and set out on a 500 nm unmanned voyage down the Norwegian coast, without a human aboard. The first leg alone, Trondheim to Mongstad north of Bergen, covered over 300 nautical miles. A live SeaSight camera feed tracked the entire transit publicly.

They weren’t talking about warships.

Read the full article here.