WASHINGTON: The United States has deployed unmanned fast boats for patrols as part of its operations against Iran, marking Washington's first official confirmation of the use of such vessels in an active conflict, according to the Pentagon.
The deployment of these platforms, which can be used for both surveillance and suicide attacks, had not been made public until now. The decision comes despite setbacks in the US Navy's attempt to acquire a fleet of unmanned surface vessels, an effort that Reuters documented last year.
In response to questions from that agency, Pentagon spokesman for Central Command Tim Hawkins reported that the vessels used are unmanned boats manufactured by the Maryland-based company BlackSea and known as Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, or GARC.
“U.S. forces continue to employ unmanned systems in the Middle East region, including surface drone assets such as the GARC. This platform, in particular, has successfully logged more than 450 hours of navigation and more than 2,200 nautical miles during maritime patrols in support of Operation Epic Fury,” Hawkins said in a statement.
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