U.S. Launches Uncrewed Drone Boats in Escalating Iran Operation

In a landmark show of modern warfare technology, the United States has deployed unmanned drone speedboats as part of its operations against Iran.

The Pentagon confirmed the move, marking the first time Washington has publicly acknowledged using such vessels in an active conflict.

The new vessels can be used for surveillance or kamikaze strikes, and their deployment comes after years of attempts to field autonomous surface craft. The development fits into a broader effort to modernize maritime power without dramatically expanding risk to sailors in dangerous waters.

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The deployment of the vessels built by Maryland based BlackSea, known as the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, or GARC, had been used for patrols as part of the U.S. campaign against Iran, dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”

This sentence links the new capability directly to the ongoing campaign and underscores its intended role in tracking and potentially striking targets at sea.

Tim Hawkins, a Pentagon spokesperson for Central Command, said unmanned vessels built by Maryland based BlackSea, known as the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, or GARC, had 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.

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The words carry the weight of a new era in which the sea lanes can be monitored and defended with fewer sailors exposed to risk.

Hawkins declined to comment on the testing setbacks that have shadowed the Navy’s drone boat program for years.

“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 said.

The news comes after a long saga of technical hurdles, cost concerns, and testing missteps that have slowed the broader push to deploy autonomous craft at sea.

Image Credit: DoW

Reuters reported last year that the GARC, an angular speedboat about five meters long, was involved in multiple performance and safety issues, including a collision 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 who was briefed on the matter. Hawkins declined to comment on the testing setbacks.

Proponents argue that such unmanned platforms reduce risk to sailors while preserving the ability to monitor busy choke points and approach routes in real time. They emphasize that the GARC is an emerging capability and part of a broader shift toward quicker, cheaper, and more persistent maritime presence.

The argument continues that this capability complements manned ships, giving commanders a larger set of tools to deter adversaries and deter aggression by demonstrating capability and readiness.

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