U.S. Navy foils attempts by Iran to capture unmanned drone vessel in Persian Gulf

 

Photo Credit: Zenger/U.S. Navy via Newsweek.

The U.S. Navy said it foiled attempts by the Iran to capture an unmanned drone vessel during a mission in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy was towing the vessel away when it spotted the movement, the U.S. Navy said.

Images obtained from the U.S. Navy on Tuesday, August 30, appear to show an Iranian vessel towing the unmanned U.S. Navy service vessel.

The Navy said one of its manned vessels and a helicopter responded to the incident and moved towards the unmanned vessel the Iranian ship severed its towline and fled, Newsweek quoted the U.S. Navy.

"The U.S. Navy prevented a support ship from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) from capturing an unmanned surface vessel operated by the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Arabian Gulf, August 29-30,” the U.S. Navy said in a statement released on Tuesday August 30, according to Newsweek.

"While transiting international waters around 11 p.m. (local time), August 29, U.S. 5th Fleet observed IRGCN support ship Shahid Baziar towing a Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel (USV) in an attempt to detain it.

"U.S. Navy patrol coastal ship USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) was operating nearby and immediately responded. U.S. 5th Fleet also launched an MH-60S Sea Hawk from Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 26, based in Bahrain,” according to Newsweek.

"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."

Iran attempted to capture US Saildrone Explorer USV

Newsweek quoted Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces as saying that "IRGCN's actions were flagrant, unwarranted, and inconsistent with the behavior of a professional maritime force."

 "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," he added.

The U.S. Navy added in its statement: "The Saildrone Explorer USV the IRGCN attempted to confiscate is U.S. government property and equipped with sensors, radars, and cameras for navigation and data collection. This technology is available commercially and does not store sensitive or classified information,” according to Newsweek.

"U.S. 5th Fleet operates a network of manned and unmanned systems in accordance with international law. The integration of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into fleet operations enhances maritime vigilance for U.S. forces and international partners in waters across the Middle East," the statement noted.