WASHINGTON D.C, 27 March (H.S.): The United States has rolled out uncrewed drone speedboats for the first time in an active war zone, deploying them on patrol missions amid escalating tensions with Iran, according to a Pentagon statement released Thursday.
Pentagon spokesperson Tim Hawkins for U.S. Central Command revealed that these vessels, known as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) and built by Maryland-based BlackSea Technologies, are supporting Operation Epic Fury — the ongoing U.S. campaign against Iran.
Hawkins noted the boats have already clocked over 450 underway hours and more than 2,200 nautical miles in maritime patrols across the Middle East region, enhancing situational awareness in volatile waters without risking American sailors.
Roughly five meters long with an angular design for high-speed maneuvers, the GARC platforms can handle surveillance or even kamikaze-style strikes, though officials stressed their current role remains strictly reconnaissance.
This marks Washington's inaugural public acknowledgment of using such unmanned surface vessels (USVs) in live combat, a development spurred by battlefield lessons from Ukraine's successful drone boat attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
Iran itself has twice deployed similar sea drones to target oil tankers in the Gulf since U.S. and Israeli strikes kicked off nearly a month ago, but no evidence suggests American GARCs have gone offensive yet.
The rollout comes as the U.S. Navy grapples with persistent hurdles in scaling up its uncrewed fleet — a key push to field cheaper, quicker alternatives to crewed ships and subs, especially against China's Pacific naval expansion.
Reuters investigations last year highlighted GARC's rocky path, including high-speed collisions during tests and a recent Middle East trial where one unit went dead in the water; Hawkins dodged questions on those flops, calling it an emerging capability now bolstering the U.S. 5th Fleet.
BlackSea Technologies offered no comment, while Hawkins stayed mum on additional drone systems in play.As Operation Epic Fury presses on Friday, these ghost boats signal a pivotal shift in naval warfare, blending autonomy with frontline grit.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
