US Uses Sea Drones in Combat for First Time in Iran Naval Base Strike

First reported US combat use of sea drones

US Central Command said American forces used unmanned surface vessels in combat for the first time during strikes on Iran on Sunday, targeting a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base.

In a social media post Monday, CENTCOM said, “Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations.” It added that the strikes “degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping.”

The operation marks a new combat use for unmanned surface vessels in US military operations, shifting them from surveillance and support roles to direct attack.

What CENTCOM released

CENTCOM posted a 24-second unclassified video showing three unmanned surface vessels approaching shoreline infrastructure before detonating. Two clips appear to show the same dock being targeted.

The video then shifts to a first-person view from what appears to be the bow of one drone during its final approach to a dock. CENTCOM’s footage appears to show an exposed small submersible at the target area. The final seconds cut back to an overhead view and show three explosions.

CENTCOM did not provide further technical details on payloads, launch points, or the extent of damage in the post cited in the source material.

Context around the strikes

The reported drone attack followed what CENTCOM described Sunday as a fresh wave of offensive strikes against Iran.

The strikes came after President Donald Trump posted Friday that a ceasefire with Iran was “OVER.” Trump also posted Monday that the US would reinstate a naval blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

CENTCOM framed the Bandar Abbas strike in terms of maritime security, saying the operation reduced Iran’s ability to continue attacks on commercial shipping.

The Corsair vessel

The unmanned craft identified by CENTCOM was Saronic’s Corsair. According to the company information, the vessel can carry up to 1,000 pounds over 1,000 nautical miles.

Task Force 59, the Navy unit in Bahrain focused on unmanned operations, began fielding the Corsair in March, according to CENTCOM.

While this was described as the first combat use of US sea drones, it was not the first recent operational role for the platform in the Middle East.

Prior use and Navy testing plans

CENTCOM said last month that Task Force 59 “assisted” in rescue operations for two crew members from a downed US Army AH-64 Apache off the coast of Oman. Media reports said a Corsair vessel located and recovered the two crew members.

The platform also has a near-term Navy acquisition path. In May, the service said Saronic was one of seven companies selected to take part in the Navy’s MUSV Marketplace at-sea testing this summer. Companies that successfully complete the demonstration are set to receive $15 million and qualify for follow-on production, according to the Navy announcement referenced in the source.

The US use of the Corsair in an attack role comes as unmanned surface strike craft have already seen battlefield use elsewhere, including by Ukraine in operations against Russia.