Pentagon Confirms First Use of Unmanned Drone Boats in Iran Operations

The Pentagon has acknowledged for the first time that it's using unmanned speedboat drones in its military operations against Iran. The autonomous vessels, built by a Maryland company, have logged hundreds of hours patrolling Middle Eastern waters despite ongoing technical challenges.

The Pentagon has acknowledged for the first time that American forces are utilizing unmanned speedboat drones in military operations targeting Iran, marking a significant milestone in modern naval warfare.

Pentagon officials confirmed the deployment of autonomous watercraft for patrol duties, representing the initial instance where Washington has publicly acknowledged employing such technology in active military engagement.

These robotic vessels – capable of conducting surveillance missions or executing kamikaze-style attacks – have gained international attention following Ukraine’s successful use of explosive-equipped speedboats against Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.

Tim Hawkins, speaking for Pentagon Central Command, revealed that autonomous boats manufactured by Maryland-based BlackSea, designated as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), have been conducting patrols during the U.S. military campaign against Iran, known as “Operation Epic Fury.”

“U.S. forces continue to employ unmanned systems in the Middle East region, including surface drone assets like the GARC. This platform, in particular, has successfully logged over 450 underway hours and more than 2,200 nautical miles during maritime patrols in support of Operation Epic Fury,” Hawkins stated.

Iranian forces have employed similar drone technology to target oil tankers in Gulf waters on at least two occasions since American and Israeli military strikes commenced nearly a month ago. Pentagon officials provided no evidence suggesting U.S. forces had utilized their unmanned boats for offensive operations.

The American military has spent years attempting to develop a fleet of autonomous surface and underwater craft as a more economical and rapid alternative to traditional manned vessels, particularly to address China’s expanding naval presence in the Pacific region. However, this initiative has experienced delays and encountered numerous obstacles including technical malfunctions, budget concerns, and testing failures.

Previous reporting revealed that the GARC – an angular speedboat measuring approximately five meters in length – has experienced multiple operational and safety complications, including a high-speed collision with another vessel during military testing.

Sources familiar with recent operations indicated that another GARC unit became non-functional during a failed test in the Middle East within recent weeks.

When asked about these setbacks, Hawkins declined to provide details but emphasized the technology’s evolving nature.

“The GARC is an emerging capability and part of a fleet of surface drones operated by U.S. 5th Fleet to enhance awareness of what’s happening in regional waters,” he explained.

BlackSea, the Maryland-based manufacturer, declined to provide comments regarding their involvement in the operations.