The Pentagon has confirmed that the United States is actively deploying unmanned drone boats in the Middle East to counter threats from Iran. These uncrewed surface vessels, including the 16-foot Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) speedboats, are equipped with advanced sensors and capable of coordinated swarm operations. Verified by Reuters on March 26, 2026, these vessels have logged over 450 hours in missions such as Operation Epic Fury, emphasizing surveillance and mine detection to protect vital shipping lanes without placing crews at risk.