Kraken has a new CEO overseeing its US operation. Justin Litko has joined the defence firm, which produces autonomous surface and subsurface vessels. The UK-based, newly crowned unicorn, has been operating in the States since 2023 under Kraken Technology US Inc., and the appointment underscores how Kraken and ramping up its presence and activity in the country.
Litko is a retired US Army Special Forces Warrant Officer, having served for over two decades before making the move to defence tech. He comes from BlueHalo, the US defence firm concentrating on space superiority, counter-drone systems (counter-UAS), directed energy, and cyber intelligence, where he was Chief of Staff to the CEO. BlueHalo was acquired by AeroVironment for $4.1 billion through an all-stock transaction that completed in 2025.
He became VP of the Special Operations Solutions Division before leaving a year later for Kraken’s shores. He is expected to lead the company’s domestic expansion and deliver localised manufacturing and development of Kraken’s autonomous vessels in the US.
“Kraken has proven its technology across the globe. I am delighted to be joining Kraken US to accelerate its delivery of American-made unmanned vessels in support of our military and deploy mission-ready autonomy on the water at the speed the threat demands,” said Litko.
His appointment will see him jump straight into the deep end of the growing hybrid Navy sector.
Back in November, Kraken secured a $49 million US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) deal to build next-gen uncrewed maritime systems. The Other Transaction Authority (OTA) agreement supports the rapid development and prototyping of novel uncrewed surface and subsurface vessel technologies to enhance maritime capabilities for US special operations.
Uncrewed and autonomous vessels are becoming a cornerstone of hybrid, next-generation military strategy. Just this week we saw three main players in the defence join forces when Frankenburg and ACUA Ocean Technologies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Babcock International Group to collaborate together on autonomous maritime defence solutions for naval customers.
Our daily news feeds give backing to the need of such defensive innovations to monitor and react to activities on the world’s waters. In recent weeks, we’ve seen attacks on the Ukrainian port of Mykolaiv, Ukraine hit an Iranian tanker, Russia held some kind of target practice in the English channel, and that’s alongside the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Mal Crease, CEO and founder of Kraken Technology Group, said that Litko will “turbocharge Kraken’s rapidly expanding presence in America,” and will lead the firm Kraken through “its next stage of growth in delivering reliable and effective autonomous systems for the US in the US.”
Hybrid navies are go!
