Haddy 3D-Prints TF-179 Drone Boat Using Robotic Arms

A Florida company that started out printing furniture with giant robotic arms has shifted to building drone boats for the U.S. military. Haddy, based in St. Petersburg, announced on Saturday that it produced the TF-179 Drone Boat using large-format robotic additive manufacturing.

The vessel was built at Haddy's 30,000-square-foot facility, which houses eight CEAD robotic 3D printing systems. Seven of those machines run on rails, giving them extended reach for large parts. Founder Jay Rogers, a former Marine who previously ran Local Motors, has turned what began as a custom furniture business into a defense-focused digital manufacturer.

Haddy has already delivered a 40-foot hull for HavocAI's unmanned surface vehicle in just nine days. It is also partnered with Red Cat Holdings' Blue Ops division to double production capacity for maritime drones at a new Valdosta, Georgia facility. The TF-179 is the latest product from that push.

The company did not name the customer or specific mission. But the broader trend is clear: militaries are moving away from years-long shipbuilding cycles toward small, expendable unmanned vessels that can be replaced quickly. Robotic 3D printing fits that model because designs can be changed digitally and reprinted within days, bypassing the molds and lengthy curing processes of traditional boatbuilding.

The timing matters. Ukraine's use of inexpensive drone boats against the Russian Black Sea Fleet has pushed American and allied planners to prioritize speed and volume over traditional naval construction timelines. Haddy's approach lets them adjust a vessel's design and produce a new version within days rather than retooling a physical production line.