Overview
- CENTCOM said three Saronic-built Corsair unmanned surface vessels struck a submarine and a ship maintenance facility at Bandar Abbas, degrading the site’s ability to target commercial shipping.
- The command characterized the July 12 strikes as the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations and released video of the hits.
- The Corsair is a roughly 7.3-meter unmanned surface vessel that can carry about 453 kilograms of payload, reach speeds above 35 knots, and entered U.S. service after a December 2024 Navy production contract.
- Markets and shipping insurers reacted to the strikes by pricing a lower short-term risk of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, while analysts warn the situation could change if the IRGC responds.
- Task Force 59 had used Corsair boats for surveillance and a June 8 personnel rescue, and the shift to one-way attack missions raises questions about doctrine, escalation control, and safety in the Strait of Hormuz.