A video, which was circulated by Iran in January 2025 but gained renewed interest lately, shows a large number of vessels in an IRGC-N (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Navy) underground base. Among these vessels is a type of small speedboat which I believe has been used as an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in attacks on tankers in the Persian Gulf.
It is no surprise that Iran has explosive USVs, it supplied this technology to the Houthi Movement in Yemen, yet its own types have been elusive. The design witnessed is a small interceptor-boat with twin outboard motors, and a fixed mast behind a small cockpit aft. This suggests that, like the Houthi’s ‘blowfish’, it can be crewed for part of its mission. It is likely that it will be commanded from another boat during the attack. USVs represent a much greater threat to merchant vessels than many of Iran’s crewed ‘mosquito fleet’ boats.
Related:
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Uncrewed surface vessel 07/22/2024 Drone strike damages ship off Yemen
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Uncrewed surface vessel 08/21/2025 Uncrewed Boats Launch FPV Drone Strike On Key Russian Radars Located On Crimea's Southern Tip
Uncrewed surface vessel 07/22/2024 Drone strike damages ship off Yemen
Uncrewed surface vessel 07/20/2024 Russian Perspective: Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation (19 July 2024)