The US kamikaze drone boats were used in combat for the first time as American forces targeted Iranian naval facilities during a series of strikes over the weekend. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the operation was aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to carry out attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating regional tensions.
According to CENTCOM, three Saronic Corsair unmanned surface vessels (USVs), commonly described as kamikaze drone boats, struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility at Iran’s Bandar Abbas Naval Base on July 12. The military said the attack formed part of a broader campaign against what it described as dozens of Iranian military targets.
CENTCOM stated that the drone boats successfully hit their designated targets and caused significant damage to infrastructure used to support Iranian naval operations. The command said the strikes were intended to reduce Iran’s capability to threaten international commercial shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The operation marks the first publicly acknowledged combat use of unmanned surface vessels by the United States. Military analysts view the development as a significant milestone in the growing use of autonomous systems for maritime warfare and precision strike operations.
The latest attacks come as tensions between Washington and Tehran continue to rise over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route through which a large share of the world’s oil exports passes. The ongoing conflict has increased concerns over maritime security and energy supplies.
US President Donald Trump has previously stated that Washington intends to collect fees from vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a proposal linked to the broader dispute over control of the waterway. The issue remains one of the central points of confrontation between the United States and Iran.
The US kamikaze drone boats operation also reflects the expanding role of unmanned naval technology in modern military strategy. Last month, a Saronic Corsair drone boat was reportedly used during a search-and-rescue mission in the Gulf of Oman following the crash of a US Army Apache helicopter, highlighting the platform’s increasing operational use.
