U.S. Army special forces used unmanned surface vessels (USVs) packed with explosives to sink a target ship during a live-fire exercise in Batanes, Philippines, roughly 100 miles south of Taiwan.

According to reports, Green Berets from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) remotely operated the unidentified drone boats during the annual U.S.-Philippines Balikatan military exercises. U.S. Navy Combatant Craft Mediums were also involved in the sinking exercise targeting the decommissioned commercial vessel MV Manfil.

The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) patrol boat BRP Cabra. According to the PCG, the exercise also featured guided missiles, rockets, and gunships.

Images released by the War Department showed the drone boats carrying forward-mounted explosive payloads. 

That’s interesting @thinkdefence @historicfirearm
A big EFP and it’s little buddies along side https://t.co/ACqXzaSszo pic.twitter.com/XWGwz1c9TP

— 𝙒𝘽🦍𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜 🍕🐀 (@FormerDirtDart) May 1, 2026

Open-source analysis indicates the configuration includes a single large forward-facing explosively formed penetrator (EFP) surrounded by seven smaller EFP elements angled slightly outward.

Analysts noted that the USV shares several external features with later variants of Ukraine’s Magura naval drones, including hull shape and forward impact-fuse elements. Magura drones have gained prominence for their attacks on larger Russian warships in the Black Sea over the past few years.

UFORCE, which identifies itself as the exclusive producer and manufacturer of Magura USVs, disputed any authorized connection to the vessels used in the exercise, stating that no third party is licensed or authorized to produce Magura USVs in any country worldwide, according to Defence Blog.

Some analysts also note the USVs similarities to naval drones being developed by U.S. company Red Cat, which has presented a 7-meter-class platform under its Blue Ops division.

However, no official connection between Red Cat’s systems and the vessels used in Balikatan 2026 has been confirmed.

Balikatan 2026 involves more than 17,000 troops from the U.S., the Philippines and allied nations, including Japan, which joined for the first time. The drills feature live-fire exercises, maritime operations, air defense training and joint combat scenarios conducted across the Philippine archipelago.

DEFENDING THE COASTLINE | The 3rd Marine Brigade led the successful conduct of a Counter-Landing Live-Fire Exercise during Exercise Balikatan 41-2026, together with allied forces from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand on April 27, 2026.

Said exercise simulated a… pic.twitter.com/Cik4VK3gKe

— Philippine Navy (@Philippine_Navy) May 1, 2026

ENHANCED MARITIME OPERATIONS IN WPS | The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), together with the United States Armed Forces and partner nations—the Japan Maritime Self- Defense Force, Australian Defence Force, and Canadian Armed Forces—conducted a Multinational Maritime Event… pic.twitter.com/AKHE8itvpz

— Philippine Navy (@Philippine_Navy) May 1, 2026

Balikatan 2026 runs from April 20 to May 8.