New Delhi: The United States has carried out its first-ever combat deployment of unmanned surface vessels (USVs), better known as sea drones, during strikes
on Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking a new chapter in modern naval warfare.
According to the US Central Command (CENTCOM), three one-way attack sea drones struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at the strategically important naval base on July 12. The Pentagon said the operation was aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to support attacks on commercial shipping and military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. The strike comes as military escalation between the US and Iran resumed after the collapse of recent diplomatic efforts.
How did the US use sea drones against Iran?
The attack on Bandar Abbas was unlike previous American strikes that relied primarily on fighter aircraft, bombers or cruise missiles. Instead, the US military deployed three Corsair unmanned surface vessels, autonomous boats packed with explosives that travelled across the water before crashing into their targets.
CENTCOM released footage showing the vessels striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility inside the naval base. Military officials described it as the first operational combat use of American sea drones.
Bandar Abbas is Iran’s principal naval hub overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest energy chokepoints through which roughly a fifth of global oil shipments pass during normal times. Over recent months, the port has emerged as a critical base for Iranian naval operations as tensions in the Gulf escalated.
US officials said the strike was intended to reduce Iran’s ability to sustain maritime attacks and disrupt shipping in the region rather than target civilian infrastructure. The operation also reflects a broader Pentagon push to integrate autonomous systems into frontline combat following lessons drawn from the Ukraine war, where inexpensive naval drones have repeatedly damaged or destroyed larger Russian warships.
What are sea drones and why are they changing naval warfare?
Sea drones, formally known as Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), are robotic boats capable of operating with little or no onboard crew. Depending on the mission, they can be remotely controlled, operate autonomously using onboard sensors and artificial intelligence, or function in a semi-autonomous mode under human supervision.
Unlike aerial drones, which fly over targets, sea drones move across the surface of the water. They can carry cameras, radar, sonar, electronic warfare equipment or explosives, allowing them to perform a wide range of missions, from surveillance and mine detection to logistics, reconnaissance and direct attack.
The Corsair vessels used by the US are designed by American defence company Saronic. Measuring around 7.3 metres in length, they can reportedly travel more than 1,000 nautical miles and carry payloads of up to 1,000 pounds. Their relatively low cost compared with traditional warships makes them attractive for missions where commanders would rather risk an unmanned vessel than a crewed ship.
Ukraine demonstrated their potential during the Black Sea conflict by repeatedly targeting Russian naval vessels using explosive-laden unmanned boats. Iran has also invested heavily in unmanned maritime systems and has deployed drone boats in attacks on commercial shipping in recent years. The US strike on Bandar Abbas signals that Washington has now embraced the same technology for offensive naval operations.
