The US Department of Defense has for the first time officially confirmed the deployment of fast unmanned boats for patrols as part of operations aimed at Iran. These craft, capable of conducting surveillance or carrying out suicide attacks, represent a new tool in the Pentagon’s arsenal. Their use marks a shift in methods of naval warfare, especially against the backdrop of successful use of similar technologies by other countries in recent conflicts.
According to US Central Command spokesman Tim Hawkins, unmanned boats of the type "Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft" (GARC) produced by the company "Black Sea" took part in patrols as part of a campaign against Iran called "Epic Fury." Hawkins said these systems logged more than 450 hours at sea and covered over 2,200 nautical miles in support of the operation. He emphasized that US forces continue to employ various unmanned systems in the Middle East.
However, the US effort to create an entire fleet of surface and underwater unmanned vessels as a cheaper and more agile alternative to crewed ships has faced years of difficulties. The program is behind schedule due to technical problems, cost issues, and a series of incidents during testing. For example, military tests of the roughly five-meter-long GARC were accompanied by performance and safety problems, including a collision with another vessel at high speed.
The relevance of unmanned maritime systems sharply increased after Ukraine began using fast explosive boats to inflict significant damage on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Iran, in turn, has used maritime drones to attack oil tankers in the Persian Gulf. These examples have spurred international interest in developing similar technologies. There is no information yet that the US has used unmanned ships to deliver strikes, but the risk remains that they could be employed in attacks capable of escalating tensions in the region.
These developments occur amid a worsening conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran. It is reported that since late February attacks by Israel and the US have killed hundreds of people in Iran. Tehran has responded with launches of missiles and drones at Israel, as well as attacks on what it calls American interests in Arab countries. Some of these strikes have resulted in civilian casualties, drawing condemnation from the attacked states.
In this context, the US continues to expand its maritime unmanned capabilities as part of a strategy to monitor the balance of power in the Middle East and to counter growing regional influence, particularly Iran’s. Developing a fleet of unmanned boats, despite current technical challenges, is considered an important element of future naval presence and deterrence in an unstable region.
Comments on the news
- What is the Russian company "Black Sea" and what is its role in developing maritime unmanned systems? — "Black Sea" (Black Sea) is a Russian company reportedly involved in developing maritime unmanned systems. Its exact role is unclear from open sources, but in the Iran context this could indicate collaboration in the area of kamikaze maritime drones or reconnaissance craft, which Iran has actively used in the Persian Gulf.
- What is the US campaign "Epic Fury" and what are its specific objectives regarding Iran? — The US campaign "Epic Fury" (Epic Fury) is a military-political operation aimed at deterring Iran. Its objectives include: disrupting Iranian drone and missile development programs, conducting cyberattacks on military infrastructure, increasing sanctions to limit Iran’s oil revenue, and countering transfers of Iranian drones to allies such as Russia and proxy groups in the Middle East.
- What exactly is the "growing regional influence" of Iran that the US seeks to contain? — Iran’s influence is manifested in: 1) Military support for groups in Syria, Iraq, Yemen (the Houthis) and Lebanon (Hezbollah) that attack US and Israeli targets; 2) Supplying drones and missiles to Russia for the war in Ukraine; 3) Control over key maritime routes in the Persian Gulf through its fleet and drones; 4) Expansion of its nuclear program, which increases Tehran’s diplomatic weight. The US views these as threats to regional stability and to the interests of its allies.
Full version: رويترز: أمريكا تنشر زوارق مسيرة في نزاعها مع إيران