1984 SpyVeillance: Iran Tows US Sea Drone, Gets Checked

[grarpamp]

It's 1984 when... you're no longer free to even roam the seas without minders...



US Navy Helicopter Thwarts Iranian Attempt To Capture High Tech Sea Drone

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/us-navy-says-iran-seized-later-let-go-of-american-sea-drone/2022/08/30/c045cf4e-2879-11ed-a90a-fce4015dfc8f_story.html
https://www.naval-technology.com/projects/saildrone-explorer-unmanned-surface-vessel-usv-usa/

The US Navy has announced a high seas incident wherein it foiled an
attempt by Iran's elite Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC Navy) to
capture an unmanned surface vessel as it traversed an area of the
Persian Gulf.

The US military sea drone was being operated by America's 5th fleet,
and upon the intervention of US Navy assets - including a helicopter
which deployed in response - the Iranians let the drone go.

    #BREAKING: U.S. Navy releases video showing support ship Shahid
Baziar, from #Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy unlawfully
towing a Saildrone Explorer unmanned surface vessel in international
waters of the Arabian Gulf, Aug. 30. pic.twitter.com/5Dwe0673RE
    — Jason Brodsky (@JasonMBrodsky) August 30, 2022

Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a 5th Fleet spokesman, in a statement
identified that the drone in question is a Saildrone Explorer, which
is a high tech, relatively large drone used for gathering an array of
data, including mapping the ocean's floor.

According to his statement released in an AP/Washington Post report:

    Hawkins said the Guard vessel was towing the drone behind it as a
U.S. Navy ship and helicopter approached it. Hawkins told The
Associated Press the Navy called repeatedly to the Iranians, who
ultimately let the drone go.

    Iran did not immediately acknowledge the incident. However, it
comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Iran over
Tehran’s tattered nuclear deal with world powers.

The Saildrone Explorer USV (unmanned surface vehicle) is a newly
developed and deployed US-manufactured high tech data collection
system which uses AI to autonomously gather oceanic and other
intelligence.
Saildrone USV, which uses solar power to operate some of its
components. Image: US Navy

According to an industry website, "The Royal Jordanian Navy and the US
Navy’s 5th Fleet established an unmanned task force for the
integration of unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into its
operations, in September 2021."

"The Jordanian naval base in Aqaba has been serving as a joint hub for
operations of Saildrone USV in the Red Sea since December 2021," the
report details.
Saildrone USV. Image: US Navy

The drone's size is significant, with a hull length of 23ft (7m), a
wing height of 15ft (5m), and a draft of 6ft (2m), according to specs
listed by Naval Technology.

"The Saildrone USV autonomously navigates through large areas of the
oceans based on waypoint-to-waypoint navigation through wind and
currents," the description indicates. "It is constantly monitored by a
pilot who can command and control the USV using satellite
communications."