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Pentagon deploys autonomous GARC drone speedboats in Persian Gulf — first combat use in Operation Epic Fury

·Persian Gulf / Strait of Hormuz

The Pentagon confirmed the US has deployed uncrewed autonomous drone speedboats — the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), built by Maryland-based BlackSea — for maritime patrols in Operation Epic Fury against Iran. It is the first confirmed use of such vessels in an active conflict. CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins: GARC has logged 450+ underway hours and 2,200+ nautical miles in Persian Gulf patrols. The craft can be used for surveillance or kamikaze strikes.

The US Pentagon confirmed on 26 March 2026, in response to questions from Reuters, that US forces have deployed uncrewed drone speedboats in the Persian Gulf as part of Operation Epic Fury, the US military campaign against Iran. The vessels — Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), built by Maryland-based company BlackSea — are the first autonomous surface vessels confirmed used in an active conflict. CENTCOM spokesperson Tim Hawkins: 'US forces continue to employ unmanned systems in the Middle East region, including surface drone assets like the GARC. This platform has successfully logged over 450 underway hours and more than 2,200 nautical miles during maritime patrols in support of Operation Epic Fury.' The GARC can be used for surveillance or kamikaze strikes. The deployment comes despite previous setbacks in the US Navy's effort to field a fleet of uncrewed surface vessels.
usgarcdrone-boatspersian-gulfoperation-epic-furyautonomousnaval

Actor responses

United StatesSUPPORTINGMILITARY

CENTCOM spokesperson Hawkins: 'The GARC has successfully logged over 450 underway hours and more than 2,200 nautical miles during maritime patrols in support of Operation Epic Fury. It is the first confirmed use of such vessels in an active conflict.'

IranOPPOSINGMILITARY

Iran has not commented on the GARC deployment. The craft's 2,200+ nautical miles of Persian Gulf patrols represent persistent surveillance and strike-capable presence in Iranian-controlled maritime approaches.

Sources

T1Pentagon / Reuters via Times of Israel Liveblog9% reliability