What can China learn from the US sea drone strike on an Iranian submarine base?

Chinese military analysts are calling for a rapid strengthening of harbor defenses, drawing lessons from the United States' recent combat strike using unmanned surface vessels (USVs) against an Iranian submarine base. This incident marks a significant development in naval warfare, prompting strategic reevaluation in China.

U.S. Central Command released footage on July 13 demonstrating the first combat use of American sea drones. The video depicted three vessels striking an Iranian base, reportedly resulting in the destruction of a Ghadir-class midget submarine. This class of submarine is designed for shallow coastal operations, including minelaying and supporting special forces.

The specific drone involved, the Corsair USV, is noted for its capabilities. Built by Saronic Technologies, the 7.3-meter vessel is not solely a suicide weapon and can perform a variety of missions. Its features include a modular payload, electro-optical and infrared sensors, and autonomous navigation powered by machine-learning. These attributes allow the drone to continue its mission even if its communication link is severed, according to the manufacturer.