U.S. Navy sinks ex-USS Peleliu with Ukraine-style kamikaze sea drones during RIMPAC SINKEX

Published: 25/07/2026 By: Carter Johnston

U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels take part in a sinking exercise in the Pacific Ocean targeting the hulk of decommissioned Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2026, July 17, 2026. (Screenshot from U.S. Navy video)

Sailing past the impact holes left by Harpoon, Spike, and LRASM missiles, two U.S. Navy one-way attack surface drones closed in on a decommissioned amphibious assault ship before detonating at the ship’s waterline.

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to provide additional information on the sea drones deployed during the RIMPAC SINKEX.

Overview

U.S. Navy-piloted Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) uncrewed surface attack drones from Unmanned Surface Vessel Division (USVDIV) 32 helped sink the former USS Peleliu (LHD 5) off the coast of Hawaii last Friday, advancing the service’s intentions of fielding a fleet of autonomous attack drones in the air, on the surface, and underwater. The live-fire demonstration occurred during the bi-annual, multinational Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise hosted in and around Hawaii.

The U.S. Navy’s use of Ukraine-style one-way attack surface drones follows months of industry and service efforts to accelerate the fielding of drones to the fleet, culminating in several drone systems moving into development and testing. GARC USVs, which traditionally serve as reconnaissance drones, were the type deployed to hit the Peleliu during the exercise.

RIMPAC as an Operational Test Event

Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) is now an Operational Test (OT) event, providing the U.S. Navy an opportunity to demonstrate advanced capabilities to allies in the region while showcasing them to adversaries across the Pacific.

• In 2024, the service unveiled its AIM-174B ultra long-range air-to-air missile at the exercise.
• During that exercise, the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) participated in War at Sea scenarios with its embarked Air Wing of the Future — an air wing configuration demonstrated to international allies for the first time.

This year, the service has:

• Partnered with Saildrone to test a counter-UAS uncrewed vessel capable of long-endurance missions across the Pacific.
• Tested integration between U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps air wings on the USS Essex (LHD 2), with elements of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade embarked for maritime anti-ship and reconnaissance missions.

Significance of the One-Way Attack Drone Deployment

The one-way attack drone’s deployment is perhaps the most significant element of the multinational exercise, giving international partners and adversaries a close look at U.S. Navy capabilities as the service leverages experience from Ukraine’s attacks on Russian Navy forces in the Black Sea.

Combined Task Force 66, a Europe-based U.S. Navy unit focused on maritime domain awareness, counter-unmanned system operations, and asymmetric warfighting, has closely followed Ukraine’s battlefield experiences as it works to enhance Ukraine’s lethality while improving the Pentagon’s own unmanned initiatives.

The RIMPAC SINKEX marks a crucial milestone in realizing the U.S. Navy’s own capabilities.

Kamikaze Drones in Practice

Industry partners have quickly latched onto several USV concepts being pursued by the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. The latter has already tested similar kamikaze drones to the ones used on Ex-USS Peleliu during exercises in the Philippines that simulated an archipelagic defense strategy. Drones used for counter-UAS and anti-air missions have also begun development, both on smaller displacement boats and other platforms.

Video showing a U.S. Navy one-way attack USV detonating at the waterline of Ex-USS Peleliu during the RIMPAC SINKEX event on July 17. (U.S. Navy video)