Vibhav Altekar serves as co-founder and chief technology officer of Saronic Technologies, a defense firm based in Texas. He earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of California and directs the firm’s work on autonomous systems along with software design. His responsibilities include oversight of engineering teams focused on perception, navigation, machine learning, and systems integration. Prior to establishing the company, Altekar contributed to multiple Department of Defense technology initiatives and was an early engineer at Anduril, where he managed projects including an autonomous submarine program for the Royal Australian Navy.
Saronic Technologies was launched in 2022 by Altekar and three partners, including a former Navy SEAL. The Austin-headquartered firm secured a major production contract with the US Navy. One of its vessels, the 24-foot Corsair, recently supported a US military rescue after an Army helicopter crashed near the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz. The autonomous boat, operated remotely, recovered two crew members within roughly two hours. Both individuals were later confirmed in stable condition. The incident marked the first reported use of an autonomous surface vessel by US forces for personnel recovery at sea and highlighted expanding applications for such technology in maritime operations.
