U.S. Deploys Sea Drones in Combat for First Time, Striking Iranian Naval Base

Corsair vessels hit submarine and ship-maintenance facilities at Bandar Abbas

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – The United States military has used unmanned sea drones in combat for the first time, striking Iranian naval facilities near the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command announced Monday.

CENTCOM said three explosive-laden Corsair unmanned surface vessels struck a submarine and ship-maintenance facility at Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base.

“Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping,” the command said.

Reuters independently confirmed the CENTCOM announcement, reporting that the one-way attack vessels were used during Sunday’s operations against the Iranian port.

The strike marked a significant expansion of America’s drone warfare capabilities. U.S. forces have previously used aerial attack drones, but the Bandar Abbas operation was the first acknowledged offensive deployment of American unmanned surface vessels.

The Corsair, manufactured by Texas-based defense company Saronic Technologies, is a 24-foot autonomous vessel designed for surveillance, rescue, transport, and strike missions. The vessels reportedly have a range of roughly 1,000 nautical miles and can carry payloads of up to 1,000 pounds.

A Corsair drone was also used last month to help rescue two U.S. Army personnel after their Apache helicopter went down near Oman in the Strait of Hormuz. Reuters described that mission as the first rescue of downed aircrew conducted by a U.S. Navy surface drone.

The sea-drone strike came as CENTCOM continued targeting Iranian air-defense systems, coastal radar installations, missile and drone infrastructure, and small naval vessels following renewed Iranian threats against commercial shipping.

The U.S. Navy has increasingly prioritized unmanned vessels as it works to expand its reach while limiting risks to American personnel. In May, the Navy selected seven companies, including Saronic, Leidos, and Huntington Ingalls Industries, to participate in at-sea testing for its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel program. Testing is expected to conclude by October.

The deployment signals that unmanned vessels are no longer experimental additions to the fleet but active weapons of war—capable of striking hardened targets while keeping American sailors beyond the immediate reach of enemy fire.

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