The U.S. Navy’s GARC sea drone is seeing its first real combat use as operations against Iran intensify. The small unmanned vessel has already logged hundreds of hours and thousands of miles during Operation Epic Fury, providing surveillance, early warning, and strike support against IRGC fast boats and unmanned threats. Compact, fast, and able to carry a wide range of payloads, the GARC is emerging as a key tool in the Navy’s expanding autonomous fleet. Its deployment offers an early look at how unmanned surface systems are reshaping maritime warfare in contested regions.

BlackSea Technologies has introduced its Comet drone boat in a fully armed configuration, showcasing air defense missiles and advanced sensors at Sea‑Air‑Space 2026. The 13.1‑meter unmanned vessel was built in just one month and can exceed 45 knots while carrying up to 10,000 pounds of payload. Photos from the event show a dual‑rail missile launcher, targeting turret, and navigation radar mounted on a semi‑planing aluminum hull. With long‑range endurance and a modular architecture designed for rapid reconfiguration, Comet represents one of the most heavily armed U.S. unmanned surface vessels to appear publicly and signals a push toward operational, combat‑ready USVs.

The U.S. Navy is expanding its use of autonomous sea drones, including the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, a small high‑speed vessel designed for ISR missions in contested waters. The GARC has already logged more than 450 hours and 2,200 nautical miles during Operation Epic Fury, according to recent reporting. Built for modular payloads and rapid deployment, the platform supports sensing, mine countermeasures, communications relay, and more. Its growing role aligns with the Navy’s push to integrate unmanned systems across the Fifth Fleet and new units like USVRON 7.

Three employees from BlackSea Technologies, a maritime support contractor for the Department of Defense, rushed to assist victims of a deadly boating accident in Biscayne Bay after hearing a mayday call. The men arrived to find an unmanned vessel circling and two people in the water, one critically injured and one unresponsive. Drawing on their training, they pulled the survivor aboard and applied lifesaving measures until emergency crews arrived. While the incident remains under investigation, the responders say they were simply in the right place at the right time, underscoring the professionalism and readiness that defines their maritime work.

A new report says the U.S. is using high‑speed drone boats to patrol Middle East waters as tensions with Iran escalate. The uncrewed vessels, called Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft, have already logged hundreds of hours at sea during Operation Epic Fury. Their deployment comes as Iran continues to disrupt traffic in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. weighs additional military options. The Navy has been expanding its use of unmanned systems in the region, and these craft can carry significant payloads while supporting surveillance and strike missions.

BlackSea’ Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft was featured in February 2026’s Proceedings on Innovation for Sea Power.

The U.S. Navy is accelerating deployment of uncrewed surface fleets after lessons from Ukraine and rising competition with China. Manufacturers, like BlackSea Technologies, are responding with scalable, modular USV platforms designed for rapid production and operational use.

BlackSea Technologies marked the start of construction on its NightTrain autonomous logistics vessel with a formal keel-laying ceremony. Designed to deliver containerized cargo to forward forces in contested areas, NightTrain supports distributed maritime operations while reducing risk to personnel.

N. Charleston, SC (December 11, 2025) - Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic hosted Lt. Gen. Eric Austin, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development & Integration and Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, Dec. 11. NIWC’s Expeditionary Warfare (ExW) Department Head Ashlee Landreth and the ExW team provided demonstrations of some of the systems NIWC Atlantic has been integrating on the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) for the Marine Corps, showcasing the important work being done. (U.S. Navy photo by Joe Bullinger/Released).