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The United States has confirmed it is using uncrewed surface vessels in the Iran war for the first time, deploying drone speedboats on maritime patrols.
According to a Central Command spokesperson, the uncrewed boats include a model developed by Maryland-based company BlackSea, called the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC).
"U.S. forces continue to employ unmanned systems in the Middle East region, including surface drone assets like the GARC," spokesperson Tim Hawkins told Reuters.
"This platform, in particular, has successfully logged over 450 underway hours and more than 2,200 nautical miles during maritime patrols in support of Operation Epic Fury."
The Pentagon did not disclose whether other types of unmanned systems are currently in use.
Uncrewed surface vessels have gained attention in recent years, particularly after Ukraine used explosive-laden maritime drones to strike Russian naval assets in the Black Sea.
In the Gulf region, Iran has also deployed sea drones in attacks on oil tankers at least twice since tensions escalated following U.S. and Israeli strikes nearly a month earlier. However, there is no indication that U.S. drone boats have been used in offensive roles.
Despite the operational deployment, the U.S. Navy’s broader effort to build a fleet of autonomous vessels has faced delays and technical challenges.
Hawkins described the GARC as part of an emerging fleet operated by the U.S. Fifth Fleet to improve situational awareness in regional waters, the report added.
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