Iran destroys US Saildrone Explorer unmanned vessel in Strait of Hormuz
Iran reportedly destroyed a US Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The Saildrone was approximately 7 metres long and equipped with cameras and sensors for maritime surveillance and environmental intelligence, and had been deployed by the US Navy Fifth Fleet and Task Force 59.
What happened
Iran's Revolutionary Guard Navy destroyed a Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. The Saildrone Explorer is approximately 7 metres long and equipped with cameras, communication systems and various sensors for surveillance and maritime environmental intelligence missions.
Index analysis
The vessel had previously been operated by the US Navy Fifth Fleet and Task Force 59, a unit based in Bahrain tasked with developing networks of unmanned vessels and artificial intelligence for the US Navy. Task Force 59 operated the Saildrone in the region before Iran's attacks on the US military base in Bahrain reportedly rendered it non-operational.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.