US Military Deploys Explosive Drone Boats in Combat

The United States military deployed explosive-laden drone boats in combat for the first time on the night of July 12, targeting an Iranian midget submarine and a naval port. This marks a significant escalation in the use of unmanned maritime systems by American forces.

US Central Command, responsible for Middle East operations, confirmed the strikes via a social media post, stating it was the "first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations." The military released a video depicting three "one-way attack surface drones" detonating upon approaching their targets at Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base. These kamikaze sea drones were able to achieve a "low-speed, uncontested approach" before exploding, according to USNI News.

One of the identified targets was an Iranian Ghadir-class midget submarine, which was out of the water and suspended from a gantry at the time of the attack. This deployment comes nearly a decade after Iranian and Houthi forces initially showcased similar weaponized sea drones.