The U.S. military has for the first time deployed suicide drones at sea in Iranian waters, officially launching its maritime unmanned strategy.

Korean Media: U.S. Department of Defense First Deploys Suicide Drones in Iranian Waters

¬ Drone Warfare Expands Beyond Air Combat into Naval Operations … Maritime Unmanned Strategy Officially Launches

It has been reported that the United States has deployed suicide drones in its military operations against Iran. This marks the first official confirmation by the U.S. that autonomous unmanned surface vessels have been used in actual combat. As the drone warfare between the two nations—originally centered on air combat—expands to sea, tensions in the Middle East maritime region are entering a new phase.

On the 26th local time, according to Reuters, as part of its military campaign against Iran, the U.S. Department of Defense deployed unmanned fast boats tasked with maritime patrols and strike missions. The unmanned vessel is the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), manufactured by U.S. defense company BlackSea. It is primarily used for maritime surveillance or launching suicide attacks by rushing toward targets.

The unmanned craft is operated by the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, which oversees the Middle East region. During this operation, it has accumulated over 450 hours of sailing time and traveled more than 2,200 nautical miles (approximately 4,000 kilometers) to carry out combat missions. Over recent years, the U.S. Navy has struggled with technical malfunctions and operational errors during the formation of its unmanned fleet.

However, public opinion suggests that with accumulated real-world data, the Navy's strategy for unmanned warfare has now entered a safe and stable trajectory. According to Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, speaking to Reuters: "The U.S. military continues to deploy unmanned surface vessels, including the GARC, in the Middle East region." He added, "This platform has particularly contributed to enhancing awareness of evolving maritime conditions in the region."

Experts analyze that the U.S. decision to deploy advanced maritime unmanned vessels stems from a strategic response to Iran’s asymmetric naval capabilities. The Pentagon’s vision involves leveraging overwhelming air power to strike Iran’s mainland while simultaneously using small unmanned boats at sea to establish a comprehensive monitoring network and an immediate strike system, thereby securing complete dominance over the maritime areas of the Middle East.

On the same day, Trump issued a statement saying: "We are fully committed to advancing combat operations until all objectives are achieved." He emphasized, "We have an extremely strong focus on our goals."

Source: Chosun Ilbo

Original Article: toutiao.com/article/1860834192495752/

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