The real takeaway from Saronic’s $9.3B valuation isn’t the cool rescue footage, it’s how fast unmanned systems are becoming the default in contested waterways like the Strait of Hormuz. A startup whose drone-boat just pulled off a high-profile helicopter crew rescue is now a live case study for why navies and coast guards will shift budget from manned patrol craft to autonomous, networked platforms. Second-order effect: this blurs the line between “defense tech” and “maritime infrastructure,” which pulls in insurers, ports, and energy shippers as indirect customers and political stakeholders. #DefenseTech