IC Technology & Modernization — 2026-03-27
Navy Unmanned ISR Boats Log 450+ Hours in Iran Operations as CENTCOM Integrates AI-Enabled Surveillance
US drone boats designated GARC (Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft) have logged over 450 hours and 2,200 nautical miles conducting ISR patrols in support of
Analysis
The GARC deployment operationalizes five years of Task Force 59 experimentation in Bahrain. The 450+ operational hours represent the largest combat deployment of US surface drones to date. The ISR mission is the tip; these platforms are designed for armed operations and mine countermeasures, capabilities likely needed if the US attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The GARC deployment operationalizes five years of Task Force 59 experimentation in Bahrain. The 450+ operational hours represent the largest combat deployment of US surface drones to date. The ISR mission is the tip; these platforms are designed for armed operations and mine countermeasures, capabilities likely needed if the US attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
1 sources
- US deploys drone boats in Iran conflict, report says -
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