U.S. Sends Drones To Clear The Strait Of Hormuz

But there's a nuance.

The United States has launched an emergency operation to unblock the Strait of Hormuz. To combat Iranian mines, the Pentagon is bringing in a fleet of underwater drones and aircraft.

According to Fox News.

The decommissioning of most specialized minesweepers has left the United States in a vulnerable position. Now the U.S. Navy is going through a difficult transition period, but it is also bringing in new technology such as marine drones.

How unmanned mine clearance works

Ships don't go into minefields blindly, and drones form the first wave of reconnaissance. This creates a detailed map of the seafloor.

The search process looks like this:

Underwater torpedo drones: They move on a predetermined grid. High-resolution sonars "photograph" the bottom.

Submarine drones: These vehicles tow sonars through narrow passages.

Helicopters: Special sensors look for mines drifting close to the surface.

Despite its reliance on drones, the Pentagon is being forced to bring back the "old guard." In recent days, two Avengers-class ships have been spotted in the ocean. They are the USS Chief and USS Pioneer, which are urgently en route from Southeast Asia to the Middle East.

How long it will take to clear the Strait of Hormuz

According to intelligence reports, Iran has planted at least ten mines in the strait. Some experts believe there are many more, and each of them must not just be found, but destroyed.

Finding a mine is only the beginning. Deactivation takes much longer. Operators use remote-controlled robots that detonate mines in place or puncture their casing.

Then, EOD teams must manually clear the debris. This is critical to tanker safety.

The Pentagon has already alerted Congress to the timeline. The operation could stretch over six months.

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