In a recent sequence released by Iran’s armed forces, their drones can be seen closely monitoring U.S. aircraft carriers and allied ships deployed in Middle Eastern waters. The footage also shows how the Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles are tracking various U.S. aircraft.
The presence of drones from Iran’s armed forces around U.S. and other allied ships is not new. Similar images and photographs have been published by Tehran in recent years to demonstrate the surveillance capabilities and range of their unmanned aerial vehicles, almost all of which are domestically developed. For now, it is unknown whether the recently released footage is current.
In the video released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, at least one U.S. Navy aircraft carrier can be seen, along with an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer and a Ticonderoga-class cruiser — ships that likely form part of its strike group. The Iranian drones also managed to capture images of a U.S. Navy Cyclone-class patrol ship and a La Fayette-class frigate, most likely one of the three units operated by the Saudi Arabian Navy.
Iranian drones also managed to capture the activity of various U.S. Navy aircraft, including F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighter-bombers, E-2 Hawkeye early warning aircraft, and Seahawk helicopters. In some clips, U.S. fighter jets and helicopters appear to be flying very close to the Iranian drones, as has happened on previous occasions.
It is worth recalling what happened in December 2023, when Iran’s armed forces released images and a video similar to the one from a few hours ago. However, on that occasion, U.S. Central Command quickly published a photograph of the Mohajer-6 drone that flew over the U.S. Navy formation — a photo taken from a Seahawk helicopter, with the suggestive presence of a machine gun targeting system in the frame.
Once again, it is clear that the U.S. Navy takes all necessary precautions, particularly when its strike groups operate in restricted waters such as the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea. In Iran’s case, it is common for its armed forces to deploy fast boats and all kinds of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Cover image: Screenshot from video, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
You may also like: The U.S. will deploy MQ-4C Triton drones from Japan to monitor the activities of China’s Armed Forces around Taiwan
