U.S. Military Uses Attack Sea Drones in Combat Against Iranian Naval Base

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Updated on: July 14, 2026 / 7:39 AM EDT / CBS News

The U.S. military has deployed one-way attack sea drones for the first time in combat during an operation on Sunday against an Iranian naval port. U.S. Central Command announced that forces utilized multiple sea surface drones to strike a submarine and ship maintenance facility located at the Bandar Abbas Naval Base on Iran’s coast in the Strait of Hormuz. This marked the inaugural use of these drones in combat scenarios.

A video shared by CENTCOM depicted three small sea drones rapidly approaching a raised dock, which appeared to house a small submarine, before exploding. While the extent of the damage remains uncertain, the explosions generated significant plumes of smoke into the air, and one explosion seemed to ignite a large fire.

U.S. Central Command confirmed the success of the attack, asserting that it disrupted Iran’s ability to target commercial shipping within the region. Texas-based weapons manufacturer, Saronic, revealed that their 24-foot Corsair Autonomous Service Vehicle was deployed in these operations, with CENTCOM noting the utilization of Corsair drones. According to Saronic’s statement, they are proud that their technology contributed to maintaining the safety of U.S. armed forces personnel.

The Corsair drone can carry payloads up to 1,000 pounds for distances exceeding 1,000 nautical miles, reaching speeds of 35 knots. Unveiled in October 2024, Saronic previously announced a production contract worth $392 million with the U.S. Navy in December 2025, predominantly focusing on the Corsair vessel’s production.

The prevalence of drones as a modern warfare tactic has increased, notably seen in Ukraine’s ongoing conflict with Russia, commencing over four years ago. This attack on Iran bears resemblance to Ukraine’s strategic utilization of sea drones against Russia’s Black Sea fleet.

CENTCOM’s spokesman, Captain Tim Hawkins, stated that U.S. forces deployed to the Middle East have been leveraging various innovative capabilities throughout the conflict. The rapid deployment of new technologies remains a high priority for U.S. Central Command to enhance combat effectiveness.

Charlie D’Agata contributed to this report.