Defense experts have raised concerns that Iran is deploying drone boats equipped with explosives, camouflaged as wooden fishing vessels, in the Strait of Hormuz. This represents a significant shift toward hybrid maritime warfare in a crucial shipping area.
Cameron Chell, CEO of a drone technology company, indicated this development after the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident on March 1st, where an Iranian unmanned surface vehicle attacked a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker near Muscat, Oman. The UKMTO’s threat assessment confirmed that the vessel was attacked and its crew evacuated safely to shore.
After the U.S. initiated Operation Epic Fury against Iran at the end of February, reports emerged that Iran had heightened its assaults on foreign vessels. Notably, on March 11, an explosive-laden ship attacked another floating target in the Gulf.
The emergence of “suicide skiffs” poses an escalating asymmetric threat within the relatively narrow Strait of Hormuz, according to Chell. He emphasized the technological sophistication easing these attacks and noted that the Iranian boats likely utilize advanced communications systems, making them difficult to intercept.
“Iran is probably using radio remote controls, line-of-sight, frequency hopping, or encrypted communications between the vessels and the coast,” Chell explained. “While it’s possible to track these boats, locating a small fishing boat filled with explosives among dozens is a challenge.” He added that one operator could potentially manage a swarm of multiple boats, capable of acting semi-autonomously.
Chell also outlined the tactic where these boats would crash into targets to detonate their payloads, highlighting the concerning implications for maritime safety.
Reports from March 12 indicated that a total of six vessels had faced attacks in the Gulf and around the Strait. Further complicating matters, Iran has reportedly deployed about a dozen sea mines in the region.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent mentioned potential collaboration between the Navy and the United Nations, stressing the seriousness of the maritime situation. British Defense Secretary John Healy noted ongoing discussions with European nations about the broader international economic implications of the Strait.
However, Chell expressed skepticism regarding U.S. naval defenses against these emerging threats, stating, “The U.S. Navy’s drone defense systems aren’t designed to deal with these kinds of explosive-laden boats efficiently.” He argued that while traditional aircraft might destroy larger targets, they would struggle to manage swarms of smaller, explosive-laden vessels effectively.
Chell pointed out that due to the geographical configuration of the Strait, a significant aerial presence would be necessary for surveillance and quick responses to emerging threats. Meanwhile, oil prices have surged as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has threatened to keep the Strait closed to exert pressure on the United States and Israel.
According to Chell, the region is particularly suited to low-cost, automated asymmetric warfare tactics using unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). He explained how disguising these boats as fishing vessels could easily deceive operational efforts.
These small vessels are equipped for basic remote operation, and their short travel distance across the Strait facilitates straightforward control. “They can number in the hundreds, as they’re relatively inexpensive to produce and defend against,” he remarked.
