DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. Navy sailed its first drone boat by the strategic Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, an important waterway for international power provides the place American sailors usually faces tense encounters with Iranian forces.
The journey by the L3 Harris Arabian Fox MAST-13, a 13-meter (41-foot) speedboat carrying sensors and cameras, drew the eye of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, however occurred with out incident, mentioned Navy spokesman Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins. Two U.S. Coast Guard cutters, the USCGC Charles Moulthrope and USCGC John Scheuerman, accompanied the drone.
The journey noticed the drone safely move with the accompanying ships by the strait, a busy waterway between Iran and Oman which at its narrowest is simply 33 kilometers (21 miles) extensive. A fifth of all oil traded passes by the strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.
“The Iranians noticed the unmanned service vessel transiting the strait in accordance with worldwide regulation,” Hawkins informed The Related Press. He mentioned an Iranian drone and at the very least one Houdong-class fast-attack vessel operated by Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard noticed the MAST-13 drone.
The U.S. Navy’s Bahrain-based fifth Fleet patrols Mideast waters, significantly the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, to maintain open the waterways for worldwide commerce, in addition to defend American pursuits and allies. Nonetheless, Iran views the Navy’s presence as an affront, evaluating it to its forces working patrols within the Gulf of Mexico.
Iranian state media didn’t acknowledge the drone voyage. Iran’s mission to the United Nations didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The fifth Fleet launched a particular drone job pressure final yr, aiming to have a fleet of some 100 unmanned drones, each crusing and submersible, working within the area with America’s allies.
Iran briefly seized a number of of the American drones being examined within the area in late August and early September, although there hasn’t been any related incident since.
The MAST-13 now’s working within the Gulf of Oman, the place a maritime shadow battle has performed out as oil tankers have been seized by Iranian forces and suspicious explosions have struck vessels within the area, together with these linked to Israeli and Western companies. Iran has denied involvement within the explosions, regardless of proof from the West on the contrary.
The MAST-13’s video feeds can transmit pictures again to shore and to ships at sea, serving to sailors see ships earlier than approaching them, Hawkins mentioned. That may come in useful, significantly because the Navy and Western allies have more and more seized weapons it believes had been from Iran certain for Yemen.
“It places extra eyes out on the water, enabling us to higher monitor what is occurring,” Hawkins mentioned.
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Observe Jon Gambrell on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jongambrellAP.