The U.S. Navy has taken back one its unmanned surface vessel drones that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) had captured and tried to confiscate in the Arabian Gulf.
The U.S. 5th Fleet observed the IRGCN support ship Shahid Baziar towing a Saildrone Explorer USV around 11 p.m local time on August 29 in an attempt to seize it.
Thankfully the U.S. Navy patrol coastal ship USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) was operating nearby and was able to step in with the help of a U.S. 5th Fleet MH-60S Sea Hawk from Bahrain-based Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26.
“The actions taken by U.S. naval forces in response resulted in the IRGCN vessel disconnecting the towing line to the USV and departing the area approximately four hours later. The U.S. Navy resumed operations without further incident,” the Navy said in an update on the incident.
A similar Saildrone Explorer USV to the one Iran attempted to confiscate is below.
A Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel and littoral combat ship USS Sioux City (LCS 11) sail in the Arabian Gulf, June 26. U.S. Navy Photo
The Saildrone Explorer USVs are equipped with sensors, radars and cameras for navigation and data collection. The update from the Navy said the technology is available commercially and does not store sensitive or classified information.
U.S. 5th Fleet actually operates a network of manned and unmanned systems in accordance with international law.
“IRGCN’s actions were flagrant, unwarranted and inconsistent with the behavior of a professional maritime force,” said Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces. “U.S. naval forces remain vigilant and will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows while promoting rules-based international order throughout the region.”
U.S. efforts to expand the country’s icebreaker fleet continue to pick up steam. At the NATO summit in The Hague President Trump confirmed that the U.S. was in negotiations with Finland to buy up to 15 icebreakers from the country, including acquiring a used vessel available currently.
Maritime security firms have issued urgent advisories following U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, warning of heightened risks to commercial shipping in the Middle East’s critical waterways. The strikes,...
By Phil Stewart and Steve Holland WASHINGTON, June 21 (Reuters) – U.S. forces struck Iran’s three main nuclear sites, President Donald Trump said late on Saturday, and he warned Tehran it would face more devastating attacks if...
June 21, 2025
Total Views: 888
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 109,275 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 109,275 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.