The United States has deployed ​uncrewed drone speedboats for patrols as part of its operations against Iran, the Pentagon said, the first time Washington has confirmed using such vessels in an active conflict, Reuters reported. 

The deployment of the vessels -- which can be used for surveillance or kamikaze strikes -- has not been previously reported. It comes despite a series of setbacks in the U.S. Navy’s ​years‑long effort to field a fleet of uncrewed surface vessels, Reuters reported last year.

Uncrewed vessels have risen ​to prominence in recent years after Ukraine used explosive‑laden speedboatsto inflict significant damage on Russia’s ⁠Black Sea Fleet, according to Reuters.