The US military has deployed explosive autonomous surface vessels, known as 'sea drones,' in combat for the first time, striking an Iranian midget submarine and a naval facility in Bandar Abbas. This operation marks a significant shift in naval warfare tactics, utilizing Saronic Corsair drones capable of long-range, low-speed approaches to deliver high-explosive payloads.
Background
The deployment of unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for kinetic strikes represents a rapid evolution in asymmetric naval warfare, following earlier demonstrations by non-state actors like the Houthis and Iranian forces.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Jul 15, 2026 at 02:00 AM
- Score
- 9.0 / 10