First, U.S. Forces Used Naval Drones in Combat Operations

First, U.S. Forces Used Naval Drones in Combat Operations, underscoring how unmanned systems are being integrated into U.S. military missions. The U.S. Central Command said on Monday that American forces carried out their first-ever offensive sea-drone operation in Sunday's attack on Iran’s Bandar Abbas naval base. Central Command reported using three unmanned vessels to target a submarine and a ship maintenance facility. Footage shared on its X account showed an apparent drone approach and an explosion, with Central Command saying the strikes degraded Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping. The Corsair boats identified by Central Command are 24-foot units built by Saronic Technologies, able to reach speeds up to 35 knots and carry payloads up to 1,000 pounds over more than 1,000 nautical miles.