U.S. uses armed surface drones in combat for first time during strike on Iranian naval base

U.S. uses armed surface drones in combat for first time during strike on Iranian naval base

The attack on Bandar Abbas marked the first confirmed combat use of a U.S. unmanned surface vehicle (USV), with three Saronic Corsair drone boats attacking a submarine and ship maintenance facility.

The US military confirmed that it deployed an armed unmanned surface vessel (USV) into battle for the first time on July 12, 2026. According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), it was confirmed that three Saronic pirate USVs attacked the Bandar Abbas Naval Base, Iran’s main base overlooking the Strait of Hormuz, and attacked submarines and ship maintenance facilities.

“Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully attacked a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels struck the port of the Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time U.S. forces have used maritime drones in combat operations,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on social media.

According to the command, the attack was intended to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacks on commercial shipping transiting the strategically important waterway. The attack came as the United States announced it would resume its naval blockade against Iran.

attack video

The 25-second video released by CENTCOM shows three unmanned vessels independently approaching an Iranian naval facility before exploding on impact. The video includes both overhead images from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and onboard footage of one of the Corsair USVs on its final approach toward the dock.

corsair owa strike pov
A view of the ship as seen from the USV a few seconds before reaching the dock. (Image source: CENTCOM)

The latter provided a view of the submarine, identified as a Ghadir-class midget submarine, located on a maintenance gantry. These submarines, of which up to 23 were built, had a reported displacement of 115 tons and were designed for use in shallow coastal waters.

The video ends immediately after the explosion, giving no idea of ​​the extent of the damage. However, the images were sufficient for geolocation, showing that the pirates were able to get deep into the base before the explosion.

First attack by US maritime drone

The U.S. Navy has operated unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) for many years, but this is the first confirmed use of a USV to attack an enemy. Specifically, the USV was described as a one-way attack surface drone, consistent with the definition of one-way attack drones attributed to so-called ‘kamikaze’ drones such as the US-made LUCAS and Iran’s Shahed.

Developed by Texas-based Saronic, the Corsair is a 24-foot autonomous surface vessel capable of carrying a payload of up to 1,000 pounds of either sensors or explosives. The USV can travel distances in excess of 1,000 nautical miles at speeds of approximately 35 knots.

The platform features an open architecture designed to integrate a variety of payloads, enabling missions ranging from Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) to logistics and kinetic operations.

From experiment to battle

Corsair has already achieved operational visibility during the current Middle East conflict. In fact, a Corsair operated by Task Force 59 (TF59) was used to rescue two US military personnel after an AH-64 Apache crashed off the coast of Oman last month.

According to CENTCOM, the unmanned vessel located and rescued the crew, one of the first publicly acknowledged operational uses of autonomous surface ships in a search and rescue (SAR) mission. Starting in 2021, TF 59 will be headquartered in Bahrain within the U.S. 5th Fleet area of ​​responsibility to operate and evaluate the evolving use of USVs and artificial intelligence (AI) in the naval domain.

The majority of TF59’s USVs are used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, with some specialized roles including mine detection and communications relay. The task force began deploying Corsair USVs earlier this year as part of a broader effort to operationalize unmanned maritime capabilities.

saronic corsair
File image of the Saronic Corsair USV. (Image credit: Saronic)

Interestingly, a US Department of Defense official said: USNI News Operation Bandar Abbas was carried out directly by Central Command, not Special Forces 59 or the U.S. Navy. It is unclear whether this means the capability has now been translated into operational use under a joint command structure.

Lessons from recent conflicts

The operational concept behind the pirate attack on Bandar Abbas reflects developments observed in recent conflicts, particularly Ukraine’s widespread use of explosive unmanned surface ships against the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In fact, as we have frequently reported, the Ukrainian military has repeatedly demonstrated that relatively inexpensive autonomous boats can threaten much larger naval assets and coastal infrastructure.

This has forced Russia to invest heavily in anti-USV defenses while redeploying a significant portion of its fleet away from occupied Crimea. USVs have also been used in other roles, including as anti-aircraft assets using modified infrared-guided air-to-air missiles.

Iran and its regional representatives have also been testing explosive surface ships for years. The Houthis have used USVs loaded with explosives, particularly in attacks on naval vessels in the Red Sea.

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