U.S. Navy Deploys GARC Uncrewed Surface Vessel in First Live-Fire Sinking Exercise

 The U.S. Navy has executed its first-ever live-fire strike utilizing the Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) uncrewed surface vessel during a high-profile sinking exercise off the coast of Hawaii. Operating as part of the biennial Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026 exercise, Unmanned Surface Vessel Division 32 (USVDIV-32) deployed the compact autonomous boat to target the decommissioned Tarawa-class amphibious assault ship ex-USS Peleliu. The successful kinetic strike blew a distinct hole near the waterline of the 40,000-ton warship, marking a major milestone in the integration of attritable one-way attack surface drones into mainline naval operations.

Developed by Baltimore-based BlackSea Technologies, the 16-foot GARC platform is designed with a modular architecture capable of supporting payloads up to 1,000 pounds over a 700-nautical-mile range at a cruising speed of 22 knots. During the July 17 demonstration, the drone utilized an advanced autonomy package—incorporating software suites like Anduril’s Lattice—to navigate toward and accurately strike its target. Released footage captured by a secondary accompanying drone showcased the devastating precision of the autonomous system, providing naval commanders with unprecedented visual data of the post-strike structural damage.

The historic live-fire demonstration follows closely on the heels of other major milestones for the Navy’s nascent uncrewed units, including specialized tactical integration trials during exercises like BALTOPS 2026 in the Baltic Sea. Established earlier this year, USVDIV-32 has been tasked with rapidly operationalizing uncrewed surface systems and shaping training pipelines for the Navy's newly created Robotics Warfare Specialist rating. Leadership emphasized that transitioning these capabilities from experimental concepts into active fleet architectures allows the service to industrialize tactical sea drone warfare.

The demonstration also mirrors a broader global shift toward low-cost, high-impact uncrewed maritime systems, following recent combat employments of similar drone boats by U.S. Central Command forces in the Middle East. By proving that small, relatively inexpensive uncrewed vessels can effectively breach and disable massive multi-thousand-ton combatants, the Navy is rewriting traditional surface warfare doctrine. These exercises provide vital operational insights as military planners prepare for distributed, highly contested maritime environments in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

As the RIMPAC 2026 exercises conclude, the data gathered from the Peleliu sinking will directly inform future procurement and tactical doctrine for the U.S. surface fleet. With uncrewed surface vessels rapidly evolving from simple reconnaissance tools into lethal, long-range strike assets, the Navy's hybrid fleet initiatives are cementing autonomous systems as a permanent cornerstone of modern naval power projection.