U.S. Navy Deploys Ukraine-Style Kamikaze Sea Drones During Pacific SINKEX

During the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise, the U.S. Navy used one-way attack unmanned surface vessels (USVs) to sink the decommissioned amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu off Hawaii. Two Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) drones from Unmanned Surface Vessel Division 32 struck the ship's waterline after missile impacts from Harpoon, Spike, and LRASM systems. The demonstration marks a milestone in the Navy's push to field autonomous attack drones, drawing on lessons from Ukraine's use of kamikaze sea drones against Russian forces in the Black Sea. The exercise also served as an Operational Test event, showcasing capabilities to allies and adversaries. The Navy's Combined Task Force 66, focused on asymmetric warfare, has closely studied Ukraine's battlefield experiences to accelerate U.S. unmanned initiatives.

First published Aug 4, 02:53 PM UTCUpdated Jul 25, 07:45 AM UTC1 reports · 1 sources

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U.S. Navy Deploys Ukraine-Style Kamikaze Sea Drones During Pacific SINKEX

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U.S. Navy Deploys Ukraine-Style Kamikaze Sea Drones During Pacific SINKEXNaval NewsWesternJul 25, 07:45 AM UTC

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U.S. Navy Ukraine Russia Hawaii Pacific Ocean