WANA (Sep 10) – The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy has reported destroying a U.S. unmanned surface vessel (USV) at the entrance to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, saying the vessel was struck while carrying out a mission in the area.

 

According to an IRGC Navy statement, U.S. forces had deployed unmanned vessels to the Strait of Hormuz in recent days while seeking to avoid direct confrontation with Iranian forces. As part of these operations, an unmanned vessel bearing hull number 5838, identified as a Saildrone Explorer, was targeted and destroyed by the IRGC Navy at the entrance to the Strait.

 

The Saildrone Explorer is an approximately 7-meter-long unmanned surface vessel with extended operational endurance. It is equipped with cameras, sensors and communications systems for missions including surveillance, reconnaissance and maritime domain awareness (MDA).

The vessels have previously been operated in the region by the U.S. Fifth Fleet and Task Force 59. Based in Bahrain, Task Force 59 has been tasked with developing and deploying networks of unmanned vessels and artificial-intelligence systems for U.S. naval operations.

 

The U.S. naval base in Bahrain was also targeted by Iran during the war and taken out of operational service. According to the information provided, Saildrone vessels are now being operated by a unit based in the Khasab area of Oman.

 

The IRGC Navy concluded its statement by stressing that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and under its control and intelligence surveillance, warning that any hostile presence in the strategic waterway would be targeted.