Explained: What are sea drones and how they are redefining warfare

The United States Navy has carried out its first attack using unmanned surface vessels, targeting an Iranian naval submarine base in Bandar Abbas. A swarm of three Saronic Corsair sea drones, each measuring twenty-four feet in length with a range of one thousand nautical miles, executed the strike. Powered by diesel engines, these autonomous vessels can travel at speeds exceeding thirty-five knots and carry a payload of one thousand pounds. Guided by Starlink satellites, these modular drones can operate autonomously or be remotely controlled. This development follows a rescue operation in June where a Corsair drone rescued two downed Apache pilots in the Persian Gulf. The Indian Navy also possesses similar unmanned surface vessel capabilities.