US deploys drones in Hormuz mine clearance

 The U.S. military is accelerating mine-clearing operations in the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime drones are reportedly being used in this operation. While specific details remain undisclosed, the U.S. Navy possesses diverse capabilities, including helicopters, littoral combat ships, LCS, and even trained dolphins.

According to the Wall Street Journal, WSJ, on the 19th, a U.S. Department of Defense official stated that the U.S. military is employing both manned and unmanned capabilities in mine-clearing operations.

Maritime drones encompass unmanned surface vessels and unmanned underwater vehicles, capable of detecting mines beneath the sea using underwater sonar without exposing crew members to danger.

As the U.S. Navy retires traditional minesweepers, vessels designed to detect and remove mines, maritime drones are increasingly becoming crucial to the Navy’s anti-mine capabilities, according to the WSJ. The conventional method had the drawback of exposing sailors to mine threats. Scott Savitz, a researcher at the RAND Corporation, a think tank, stated, "Since there is less concern about casualties, sending drones into minefields is much more acceptable," adding, "Even if some are lost, they can be replaced."

The anti-mine capabilities currently operable by the U.S. Navy are diverse. Unmanned surface vessels developed by defense contractor RTX are equipped with the AQS-20, a new floating underwater sonar system, and can sweep a 100-foot (approximately 30-meter) wide seabed at once. Underwater drones developed by General Dynamics, the 'MK18 Mod 2 Kingfish' and 'Knifefish,' use batteries as their power source and can be deployed from small boats.

Notably, the Navy is also known to utilize trained dolphins. According to the U.S. military, the Navy employs bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions in missions such as mine detection through its Marine Mammal Program. These animals are trained to detect, identify, mark, and recover objects in ports, coastal waters, and deep seas. Both species are known for their high trainability and adaptability to various marine environments. Particularly, dolphins can easily locate potential hazards like mines even in environments difficult to detect with sonar, thanks to their exceptional echolocation capabilities. However, it remains unknown whether dolphins were deployed in the current mine-clearing operation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Retired Rear Admiral Kevin Donegan, former commander of the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet, projected, "Unmanned underwater vehicles can survey small waterways in the region within days rather than weeks." He added that if the Navy first clears mines in narrow areas to resume partial passage, safe routes can gradually be expanded.

It remains uncertain how many mines Iran has deployed. However, experts analyze that due to U.S. military pressure, Iran likely failed to lay large-scale mines. Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and former senior U.S. Navy official, stated, "Due to U.S. military pressure, Iran probably could not use large mine-laying vessels and had to rely on small fishing boats or cargo ships," adding, "The number of mines is likely smaller than expected."

Even after agreeing to a ceasefire with the U.S., Iran has not fully opened the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has warned that mines are present in major shipping routes of the strait and has demanded the use of new routes under its control. There are observations that if the U.S. clears mines to resume partial passage, it could weaken Iran’s control over the strait and serve as a driving force for Iran to engage more actively in negotiations.

https://www.msn.com/en-xl/news/other/us-deploys-drones-in-hormuz-mine-clearance/ar-AA21ifW1