The U.S. military executed its first combat deployment of explosive drone boats, targeting an Iranian midget submarine and naval port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base on July 12, 2026. The operation marked the first time American forces used sea drones in combat, according to U.S. Central Command. The strike was part of a broader offensive against Iranian targets, including air strikes and naval actions, as tensions with Iran escalated.
The drone boats, developed by Saronic Technologies, were described as capable of autonomous navigation, long-range patrols, and loitering at specific positions. They can carry up to 1,000 pounds of payload over 1,000 nautical miles at speeds exceeding 34 knots. The drones approached their targets at low speed without resistance before detonating. One of the targets was identified as an Iranian Ghadir-class midget submarine suspended from a gantry.
This marks the second known use of drone boats by the U.S. military in the war with Iran, following an earlier rescue mission in Oman. The use of such technology aligns with a global trend, as countries like Yemen and Ukraine have also deployed drone boats for asymmetric warfare. The U.S. military is now seeking to acquire more affordable surveillance and strike drones following significant losses of high-cost systems in the conflict.
Source: arstechnica
