U.S. military uses Corsair maritime drones to attack Iran
U.S. Central Command used Corsair unmanned surface vessels to attack Iranian targets on Sunday, according to Centcom.
The Navy previously used the Corsair to rescue downed Army AH-64 Apache helicopter pilots near the Strait of Hormuz last month. However, Sunday’s operation marked the first use of a maritime drone by the U.S. military in an assault on Iranian assets, the command said in a post on social media.
“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 drones in combat operations. Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping,” officials wrote in a post Monday on X.
The command released video footage of the maritime drones approaching their targets and exploding.
The operation was part of a recently completed “new wave of offensive strikes” aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to continue attacking international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Centcom, which noted that it also used one-way aerial drones during the assaults, among other assets. A press release from the command did not disclose what type of aerial drones were used in the latest wave of attacks.
Both the U.S. and Iran have widely employed kamikaze drones against one another since Operation Epic Fury kicked off in February.
According to a Centcom press release, its recent strikes targeted Iranian drone and missile capabilities as well as other assets such as coastal radar sites and air defense systems.
The Corsair maritime drone used in Sunday’s attack is made by Saronic, which describes the platform as an “autonomous surface vessel.”
The uncrewed system is designed for rugged, long-duration missions and can operate at speeds greater than 35 knots and carry up to 1,000 pounds over 1,000 nautical miles, according to the company’s product specifications. The platform can be equipped with sensors and other types of payloads.
“The U.S. military confirmed multiple military variant Saronic Corsairs, our 24ft ASV, were used in strikes to degrade Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping — marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations,” the company posted on social media Monday.
“We are proud that our technology supported this mission and helped to keep the brave men and women of the U.S. armed forces safe. Saronic remains committed to delivering autonomous maritime systems that strengthen the security of America and its allies,” the post added.
Meanwhile, on Monday President Donald Trump said in a social media post that the U.S. military is reimposing a naval blockade against Iran.
“The Hormuz Strait is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran. We are reinstating the THE IRANIAN BLOCKADE, so named because it is only stopping Iran’s ships or customers from entering or leaving. All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait. The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ but as such, and as a matter of FAIRNESS, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security to this very volatile section of the World. The process and formation will begin immediately,” Trump wrote.
