U.S. Navy Deploys Unmanned Vessels to Detect Mines in Strait of Hormuz

U.S. military has deployed unmanned and autonomous surface platforms equipped with advanced sonar systems to detect sea mines placed by Iranian naval forces in the Strait of Hormuz. This action occurs as Iran closed the strait on Saturday morning, leading to incidents involving tankers.

Technology The Common Uncrewed Surface Vessel, produced by RTX, tows a floating sonar system called the AQS-20 to scan the sea floor for mines, covering areas 100 feet wide.

Battery-powered submarine drones, including the MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish and the Knifefish made by General Dynamics, can be launched from small boats to search for mines in patterns. Unmanned systems are preferable for such operations because they can be sent through minefields with less concern for loss, as they are replaceable.

By Sunday morning, Iran's chief negotiator reported some progress in talks with the U.S., though a deal remains distant. On Saturday, two Iranian gunboats fired on a tanker near Oman, and a second tanker was struck by a projectile. The U.S. blockade of the strait is intended to pressure Tehran in negotiations.

Impacts Clearing the backlog of trapped tankers in the Gulf may take weeks or months.

Restarting energy assets in the region will require additional time, with significant losses in production capacity, such as LNG output in Qatar, potentially taking several years to restore to prewar levels. U.S. energy exporters are expected to benefit from this reduction in Gulf production.

Context in Autonomous Warfare The use of these autonomous minesweeping systems reflects a wider trend toward automation on the battlefield.

Low-cost unmanned systems developed in various countries have accelerated the adoption of advanced warfare technologies.