The US Navy has deployed a number of aerial, surface and underwater drones to patrol the Persian Gulf, combining its surveillance with artificial intelligence. France24 writes about it.

Details of the program came to light after two incidents on August 29-30 and September 1, 2022, in which Iranian forces attempted to hijack drones twice.

In the first case, the ship of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps attached a Saildrone floating drone with a cable and began towing it. When a US Navy patrol boat and helicopter arrived on the scene, the military released the ship.

In the latter case, an Iranian destroyer took two Saildrones in the Red Sea and brought them aboard. The US military was able to return the devices the next day, but without the video cameras.

According to Iranian officials, the drones were in international waters and interfered with the free passage of ships. They were taken “to prevent possible accidents”.

The U.S. Navy said its drones operate on sea lanes and are unarmed.

Admiral Brad Cooper, Deputy Commander of the US Navy Central Command, described Iran’s actions as “horrible, irrational and inconsistent with the behavior of professional naval forces”.

“[ВС США] It will continue to fly, swim and operate wherever international law allows.”

The program of patrolling the Persian Gulf with drones has been in effect since September 2021. According to Tim Hawkins, spokesman for the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, the military receives information from all manner of unmanned sources in the air, land and sea. They also use AI to detect unusual activity.

“You need artificial intelligence to pick the one that deserves more attention,” Hawkins said.

He added that the program is not secret. Command wondered why Iran tried to seize several ships a year after launch.

Previously, the US military conducted international naval exercises using artificial intelligence and drones.

Recall that in August the US Navy demonstrated an unmanned minesweeper to combat underwater mines.