The U.S. Navy confirmed that its Global Autonomous Reconnaissance Craft (GARC) kamikaze drone boat participated in its first live‑fire training exercise during the RIMPAC 2026 maritime exercise, striking the decommissioned ex‑USS Peleliu in the Pacific Ocean on July 17.

RIMPAC, a biennial multinational exercise, includes a sinking exercise (SINKEX) that targets decommissioned vessels to evaluate weapon effects and anti‑ship capabilities.

Two GARCs were present; one executed an end‑to‑end attack, delivering a 1,000‑pound payload carried by the vessel, which caused visible damage at the waterline and allowed water to enter the ship, as shown in video released by the Navy on July 24.

The exercise was conducted by Unmanned Surface Vessel Division 32 (USVDIV‑32), established earlier this year, which is tasked with maintaining and operating unmanned surface vessels. Sarah Weinstein, the division’s first commanding officer, posted on LinkedIn that the team was honored to execute the Navy’s first GARC live‑fire during RIMPAC. The division includes Robotics Warfare Specialists trained to operate GARC platforms, and the vessel employs Anduril’s Lattice autonomy system. The GARC measures about 16 feet in length, displaces 4,800 pounds, reaches 22 knots, and has a range of 700 nautical miles.

The Navy previously employed unmanned surface vessels in kinetic operations, including strikes by CENTCOM against Iranian targets on July 12 and a rescue of an AH‑64 Apache crew in the Gulf of Oman. The GARC’s participation in RIMPAC adds to its operational experience and supports NATO’s counter‑USV training in the Baltic during BALTOPS 2026.

The exercise provides data for evolving unmanned‑system tactics and may influence future integration of crewed and unmanned platforms in naval operations.