The Pentagon has confirmed that the United States has for the first time deployed unmanned high-speed patrol boat drones as part of operations against Iran. These are devices that can be used for surveillance or kamikaze attacks, and their use in active conflict has not been reported so far.
The spokesman for the Pentagon’s Central Command, Tim Hawkins, said that the unmanned vessels of the BlackSea company from Maryland, known as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), were used as part of the “Operation Epic Fury” campaign, writes Reuters.
– This platform has successfully logged more than 450 hours of navigation and more than 2,200 nautical miles during patrols – said Hawkins.
Iran has used maritime drones to attack oil tankers in the Gulf in recent weeks, while there is no indication that US vessels have been used in offensive strikes.
For years, the US has sought to develop a fleet of autonomous surface and underwater vessels as a cheaper and faster alternative to manned ships and submarines, specifically to counter China’s growing naval power.
However, the project has been plagued by delays, technical problems and unsuccessful testing.
Last year Reuters reported that the GARC, a boat about five meters long, had multiple safety and performance problems, including a collision with another vessel during a military test. Recently, one GARC became inoperable during testing in the Middle East.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
