US Navy Deploys GARC Uncrewed Surface Vessel in First Live-Fire Training Exercise

Published Jul 29, 04:16 PM UTC

The U.S. Navy confirmed its first live-fire training exercise of the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC), an uncrewed surface vessel, during a sinking exercise (SINKEX) off the coast of Hawaii on July 17, 2026. The exercise was part of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise and involved targeting the hulk of the former amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu. The GARC, built by BlackSea Technologies, has a payload capacity of 1,000 pounds, a range of 700 nautical miles, and can be operated individually or in swarms. The exercise was executed by Unmanned Surface Vessel Division 32 (USVDIV-32), commanded by Sarah Weinstein. This milestone follows the Navy's earlier experimentation with GARC and its use in NATO's BALTOPS 2026 exercise, as well as the recent combat deployment of similar Corsair USVs by U.S. Central Command against an Iranian naval facility.