<p class="ingestion featured-caption">The Triton's solar panels charge the drone's rechargeable batteries and thrusters.Ocean Aero</p><ul class="summary-list"><li>Sea drones are reshaping naval warfare.</li><li>Ukraine, Houthi rebels, and Israeli forces are using sea drones for military operations.</li></ul><p>Cheaply made but relatively effective, sea drones are reshaping <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sea-drones-change-naval-warfare-give-smaller-navies-edge-expert-2024-7">naval warfare tactics</a> in conflicts around the globe.</p><p><a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-says-sea-baby-drones-hit-russia-ships-anywhere-black-sea-2024-7">Ukraine's navy</a> turned the tide in the Black Sea, taking out <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/warships-in-russia-black-sea-fleet-that-ukraine-wiped-out-2024-2">Russian frigates and minesweepers</a> with remote-controlled Jet-Ski-style speed boats loaded with explosives.</p><p><a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/underwater-drones-red-sea-houthis-us-navy-threat-gaza-israel-2024-2">Houthi rebels</a> are targeting commercial vessels and <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-warship-fighting-off-houthi-sea-drones-red-sea-ukraine-2024-2">US warships</a> in the Red Sea with bomb-laden drone boats, though many of the drones have been intercepted by the US and allied forces.</p><p><a target="_blank" class href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2023/10/26/what-can-israels-navy-bring-to-the-fight-in-gaza-or-lebanon/">Israel's navy</a> deployed unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), including a 30-foot rigid-hulled inflatable boat called the Protector, to intercept enemy boats and protect its coastline.</p><p>The US Navy is jumping in too.</p><p>The service is experimenting with <a target="_blank" class href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-us-naval-drone-program-spy-defeat-middle-east-threats-2024-3">sea drones</a> in combat environments to expand its hybrid manned-unmanned fleet at a faster pace and lower cost. Each naval drone costs between $1 million and $3 million.</p>