US military used explosive drone boats in combat for first time

In short: The US military says it used explosive drone boats in combat for the first time, striking targets at Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base on July 12.

What happened

US Central Command, which oversees US military operations in the Middle East, posted video of three “one-way attack surface drones” hitting targets in Iran. These are small uncrewed boats that carry explosives and are meant to blow up on impact (like a remote-controlled speedboat used as a bomb).

According to reporting cited by Ars Technica, one target was an Iranian Ghadir-class midget submarine. It was reportedly out of the water and hanging from a gantry, which is a large lifting frame used for ship maintenance. Another target was a ship maintenance facility at the same naval base.

USNI News reported the drone boats made a “low-speed, uncontested approach” before exploding. In simple terms, they were able to drive up to the targets without being stopped.

The drone boats used in the strike were identified as Saronic Corsair autonomous surface vessels made by Saronic Technologies, a defense company based in Austin, Texas. “Autonomous” means they can steer and carry out parts of a mission on their own, without someone directly driving them the whole time.

Why it matters

This is another sign that cheap, uncrewed weapons are becoming more common in modern conflict. They can be used in risky places without putting a crew in danger, and they can threaten expensive ships and ports. It is also a notable shift for the US, since exploding drone boats were previously more associated with smaller forces, such as the Houthis, and with Ukraine’s attacks at sea.

Source: Arstechnica