The United States has expanded its military campaign against Iran by deploying attack sea drones for the first time in operations conducted by US Central Command (CENTCOM).
The offensive, carried out on July 13, struck dozens of targets, including air defense systems, coastal radars, missile facilities, drones and Iranian military vessels. According to the US command, the mission is part of a strategy to reduce Tehran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The drones used are unmanned vessels loaded with explosives and designed to destroy their target in a one-way mission. The concept gained prominence during the war between Ukraine and Russia, when small remotely controlled vessels caused significant damage to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. In recent years, the US Navy has accelerated the development of this technology, driven both by the results observed in the European conflict and by concerns over the growing strength of the Chinese Navy.
Although the Pentagon has evaluated designs from several manufacturers for this type of system, US authorities did not disclose which model was used in the operation. Companies such as Saronic Technologies and MARTAC are among the leading developers of naval drones for attack missions, but CENTCOM kept details about the equipment confidential, protecting aspects considered sensitive to the operation.
The action was authorized by President Donald Trump and prompted an immediate response from Iran. The Revolutionary Guard said it had launched attacks against military bases linked to the United States in several Gulf countries. At the same time, the heightened tensions raised concerns in financial markets, pushing up the price of Brent crude and increasing uncertainty over the security of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important maritime routes for the global oil trade.
Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran. Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea… pic.twitter.com/bOM2kmgRxz
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) July 13, 2026
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Source: Defence Blog | Photos: X @CENTCOM | This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
