US sea drones hit Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base in first combat use

July 14, 2026, by Fatima Bahtić

US forces have used sea drones in combat for the first time, striking Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base with three Corsair unmanned surface vessels, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

In a statement posted on social media, CENTCOM said the operation involved “multiple one-way attack surface drones” that targeted the naval facility at the strategic Iranian port.

Specifically, the forces struck a submarine and a ship maintenance facility in Iran.

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The command noted the strike was intended to reduce Iran’s ability to continue attacks against commercial shipping.

“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,” CENTCOM stated.

Located on Iran’s southern coast near the Strait of Hormuz, Bandar Abbas is one of Iran’s most important naval facilities. The port supports operations by the Iranian Navy and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy and plays a key role in Tehran’s maritime activities in the Persian Gulf region.

The reported operation marks a significant milestone in the US military’s development and deployment of unmanned maritime systems. Unmanned surface vessels have increasingly become a focus of naval modernization efforts, with the US Navy and other services exploring their use for surveillance, mine countermeasures, logistics, electronic warfare and strike missions.

Unlike traditional crewed warships, USVs can operate with reduced risk to personnel while providing additional operational capacity in contested maritime environments.

Corsair USV was built by a US-based autonomous maritime systems company, Saronic. Measuring 24 feet (7.3 meters) in length, the vessel is designed for long-range, high-endurance operations and can carry a payload of up to 1,000 pounds (454 kg) while operating beyond 1,000 nautical miles (1,852 km).

The platform has a top speed of more than 35 knots and is designed to support multi-mission operations, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), logistics and other naval missions. Saronic describes Corsair as a modular and attritable system, allowing it to integrate different payloads and be deployed at scale for high-risk maritime operations.