The United States is building up their naval strength in the Persian Gulf before war breaks out with Iran. The newest expansion includes dozens of unmanned submersibles recently purchased by the U.S. Navy.

The new “Sea Fox” submersibles are only 4 feet long and weigh less than 100 pounds each. They feature an underwater television camera, homing sonar and an explosive charge. These underwater crafts will boost our military capabilities. The purchase was made because of an urgent request of Marine Gen. James Mattis, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East. This additional weapon in our arsenal comes in response to the verbal threats by Iranian officials to close the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point for a fifth of the world’s oil trade.

All the new Navy deployments are meant to buildup the U.S. military presence in the region while reassuring Israel that the Iranian nuclear issue is being handled.

The “Sea Fox” can be deployed from helicopters and small rubber boats, or dropped off the back of a minesweeper ship. The mini-sub can be controlled by fiber optic cable and will send back video to the operator, detecting underwater mines 300 meters deep, and moves at speeds of up to six knots. It can also be used against floating or drifting mines, which Iran has used in the past.

The unmanned submersibles come with a price tag of $100,000 and are considered to be disposable by the U.S. government. The explosive charge it carries will not only destroy the mine it seeks but also the vehicle itself.