Wednesday, October 17, 2018

The New Normal: Iranian Drones Are Now Flying Over U.S. Warships In The Persian Gulf

Iran's Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami (1st L) visits the mass production line of Mohajer 6 tactical unmanned aerial vehicle on February 5, 2018. (Photo by Tasnim news agency)

USNI News: Iranian Drone Overflights of U.S. Warships in Persian Gulf Now Common

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – U.S. warships operating in the Persian Gulf are now regularly overflown by Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles, adding a new wrinkle to operations in the region, Navy and Marine commanders said on Tuesday.

In June, the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and embarked 26 Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) entered the Persian Gulf , a region now known for having robust unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) traffic and Iranian-operated patrol boats tailing U.S. Navy ships. Constant surveillance and layered defenses are the cornerstones of how U.S. Navy commanders deal with the Iranian air and sea traffic, Capt. Jack Killman, the commander of Amphibious Squadron 4, Iwo Jima ARG, explained during a panel discussion Tuesday at the NDIA Expeditionary Warfare Conference.

“We did go to the Persian Gulf. We got the normal welcome form the Iranians, UAVs overflights, exactly as we trained for; no surprises there,” Killman said.

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WNU Editor: These drones can be armed (see above picture).

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