Middle East — 2026-07-13

US Uses Unmanned Sea Drones for First Time in Latest CENTCOM Strikes Against Iranian Military Targets

BLUFCENTCOM's first combat employment of unmanned surface vessels marks their graduation from experimental to operational strike capability, and follow-on USV strikes against Iranian targets are likely within 30 days of July 12.

CENTCOM announced that on Sunday US forces used unmanned surface vessels in combat for the first time, striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas Naval Base 12. Three Saronic Corsair one-way attack drones hit the pier, with CENTCOM's video showing the craft approaching a Ghadir-class midget submarine suspended from a dockside gantry before detonating 23. A US defense official told USNI News the operation was run by CENTCOM directly rather than by 5th Fleet's Task Force 59, which has overseen prior unmanned operations in the region 2. The Bandar Abbas strike was part of a broader weekend campaign that hit more than 300 targets across southern Iran, including Qeshm Island, following CENTCOM accusations that Iran was behind recent tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz 14. Saronic Technologies, the Corsair's Austin-based manufacturer, confirmed the drones' role and said in a statement it has produced at least 300 units as of May 13.

Analysis
CENTCOM's choice to run the Bandar Abbas strike directly rather than through Task Force 59 signals unmanned surface vessels have moved from experimental asset to standing strike option under wartime authorities, with moderate confidence given a single documented USV employment set against a broader pattern of sustained CENTCOM strikes rather than an established operational rhythm. CENTCOM will likely conduct at least one additional USV strike against Iranian targets within 30 days of the July 12 attack, drawing on Saronic's disclosed production run of at least 300 Corsair units. Reporting rests on CENTCOM's own release and USNI News's defense-official corroboration, with other outlets largely recirculating that material; the emphasis on the Corsair's combat debut may owe as much to Saronic's commercial interest in publicizing battlefield performance as to CENTCOM messaging. A confirmed second strike within that window pushes the Navy toward faster fleet-wide Corsair fielding and broader authority to employ autonomous strikes outside Task Force 59 channels.
5 sources
  1. US uses drone boats for first time in latest Iran strikes - Task and Purpose
  2. VIDEO: 3 Lethal U.S. Drones Attack Iranian Sub, Port Facility - USNI News
  3. CENTCOM Deploys Saronic Corsair USV Against Iranian Submarine At Bandar Abbas - Naval News
  4. In first, US uses sea drones in combat in Iran strikes: CENTCOM - Breaking Defense
  5. CENTCOM statement announcing first combat use of unmanned surface vessels against Iranian submarine and ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas - U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)

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