The U.S. Navy has thwarted an Iranian attempt to steal one of its sea drones. A patrol boat and helicopter were dispatched by American forces yesterday to prevent a support ship from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) from capturing an unmanned surface vessel.
While transiting international waters in the Arabian Gulf around 11 p.m. (local time), U.S. 5th Fleet observed IRGCN support ship Shahid Baziar towing a Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel in an attempt to detain it. U.S. Navy patrol coastal ship USS Thunderbolt 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. 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.
