U.S. Military Deploys Sea Drones in Iran Attack

The U.S. military utilized one-way attack sea drones for the first time in combat, targeting an Iranian naval port. The operation took place on Sunday and involved multiple sea surface drones striking a submarine and ship maintenance facility at the Bandar Abbas Naval Base. This location is situated on Iran’s coast in the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released a statement Monday confirming the use of these weapons in combat operations. A video from CENTCOM shows three small sea drones speeding toward a raised dock, apparently holding a small submarine, and exploding. While the video does not clearly show the extent of the damage, each explosion released tall smoke plumes. The final blast shown appeared to ignite a significant fire.

CENTCOM described the attack as successful. They claimed it “degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping” in the area. Saronic, a Texas-based weapons manufacturer, confirmed their 24-foot Corsair Autonomous Service Vehicle was used in the attacks. They expressed pride in their technology’s role in keeping U.S. armed forces members safe.

According to Saronic’s website, the Corsair can carry a payload of up to 1,000 pounds over more than 1,000 nautical miles, reaching a top speed of 35 knots. The sea drone was first publicly unveiled in October 2024. In December 2025, Saronic announced a $392 million production contract with the U.S. Navy, focusing on the Corsair vessel. The transition from prototype to production occurred in under a year.

Drones have become integral to modern warfare, notably in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, launched by Russia over four years ago. The recent attack on Iran mirrors Ukraine’s use of sea drones against Russia’s navy in the Black Sea.

“U.S. forces deployed to the Middle East have employed several new capabilities during the conflict,” said CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins to CBS News. “Quickly equipping our warfighters with advanced capabilities enhances combat effectiveness, which remains a U.S. Central Command priority.”

Report contributed by Charlie D’Agata.