Pentagon Deploys Uncrewed Drone Speedboats for Patrols Against Iran

The United States deployed uncrewed drone speedboats for patrols as part of its operations against Iran, the Pentagon confirmed, marking the first time Washington has acknowledged using such vessels in an active conflict.

Tim Hawkins, a Pentagon spokesperson for Central Command, said the unmanned vessels were built by Maryland-based BlackSea and are known as the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, or GARC. They have been used for patrols as part of the U.S. campaign against Iran, dubbed "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 said in a statement.

The deployment of the vessels, which can be used for surveillance or kamikaze strikes, had not been previously reported. Hawkins declined to name any of the other unmanned systems being deployed.

Reuters reported previously that the GARC, an angular speedboat about five meters long, was involved in multiple performance and safety issues, including one where it collided with another boat at speed during a military test. In recent weeks, during another failed test in the Middle East, one GARC boat became inoperable, according to a source briefed on the matter. Hawkins declined to comment on the testing setbacks, but said: "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."

Uncrewed vessels have risen to prominence in recent years after Ukraine used explosive-laden speedboats to inflict significant damage on Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Iran has used sea drones to attack oil tankers in the Gulf at least twice since the U.S. and Israel began strikes nearly a month ago.

The U.S. has for years been trying to build a fleet of autonomous uncrewed surface and underwater vessels as a cheaper and faster alternative to manned ships and submarines, particularly to counter China's growing naval power in the Pacific. The Iran conflict has now forced that still-maturing technology into active duty ahead of schedule.

BlackSea declined to comment. The Pentagon has not disclosed how many GARC vessels are currently deployed or specified which waters they are patrolling within the broader theater of operations tied to Operation Epic Fury.