Onomichi Dockyard
Japanese commercial shipbuilder founded in 1943, operating two slipways in western Japan.
Naval News reported on 21 September 2026 that Onomichi Dockyard will mass-produce Bulwark Dynamics' Caravel robot landing craft, a 35ft ramp-bowed model and a smaller Caravel-15, for US and allied forces. Bulwark has not yet finished its first prototype.
Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
When will Onomichi build its first Caravel landing craft?
Timeline for Onomichi Dockyard
Agreed to build the Caravel craft
Autonomous Systems: Land & Sea: Onomichi to build Bulwark robot landersBackground
Onomichi Dockyard has signed up to build robot landing craft for a US start-up. Under the deal, the yard is to make Bulwark Dynamics' Caravel-35, which has a bow ramp and steers itself over 35ft of hull, plus the smaller Caravel-15, for American and allied forces. Nothing has reached production: Bulwark has yet to finish its first full-size prototype, though it speaks of turning out several dozen craft a year. Onomichi also put money into Bulwark's $6.8m seed round, and the pair have a Memorandum of Understanding covering serial production of the Caravel range.
Founded in 1943 and running two slipways in western Japan, Onomichi earns its living from merchant ships: bulk carriers, tankers and ferries.
The Bulwark deal takes a civil yard into military work for foreign forces. It would give Onomichi a production line for small, repeatable hulls alongside its large merchant ships, if Bulwark's prototype leads to orders.
