Military dolphins are a real and fascinating aspect of modern naval operations. The Pentagon recently addressed rumors about Iranian "kamikaze dolphins" in the Strait of Hormuz, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stating that Iran does not possess such dolphins strapped with explosives. However, he could neither confirm nor deny whether the United States has them. While America's military strategy may not include kamikaze dolphins, experts confirm that these marine mammals are highly capable and have been used by the U.S. military for decades.
Dolphins in Military Service
The U.S. Navy has trained dozens of bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions to guard against underwater threats since 1959, according to the Navy's San Diego research center. These animals are trained to detect mines, like those Iran has deployed in the Strait of Hormuz. Scott Savitz, a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation who previously worked with the Navy mine warfare command, told Mint that dolphins "can not only locate objects, but differentiate them with a greater degree of facility than the machines that we've been able to develop for this purpose."
Researchers initially used dolphins in studies to improve torpedo design for better underwater travel, as noted by the non-profit U.S. Naval Institute. Later, the Navy explored other capabilities, deploying dolphins in Vietnam in 1970 and in Iraq in 2003.
The Most Sophisticated Sonar on Earth
Dolphins are uniquely qualified for the Navy's program, conducted along the West Coast, due to their ability to see in low-light conditions, underwater directional hearing, and sonar. They use sound waves to detect objects on the ocean floor. The Navy states that "dolphins naturally possess the most sophisticated sonar known to science. Mines and other potentially dangerous objects on the ocean floor that are difficult to detect with electronic sonar, especially in coastal shallows or cluttered harbors, are easily found by the dolphins."
Dolphins can dive hundreds of feet below the surface without illness, unlike human divers. They are among the smartest animals on Earth, capable of recognizing themselves in mirrors, using names, working in teams, and having larger brains than humans. Dr. Blake Morton, a psychology lecturer at the University of Hull, told the BBC that dolphins share personality traits with humans, noting their obvious intelligence and social nature.
The Day of the Dolphin Controversy
Past speculation led to animal activist charges that dolphins were used as offensive weapons, but these claims could not be countered due to classification. The 1973 movie "The Day of the Dolphin," where dolphins detonate explosives under a yacht, reinforced these ideas. Since declassification in the early 1990s, the Navy has openly shared information about its marine mammal program, but rumors persist. The program ensures top-notch health care for the animals, but many disagree with keeping marine mammals in captivity or using them for research, especially in military service. The non-profit International Marine Mammal Project stated in 2024 that the program should have been shut down long ago.
Health and Controversy
Some Navy dolphins have died after training, including during a 2011 exercise with underwater explosives near San Diego, according to The Los Angeles Times. A 2018 warning from the Center for Biological Diversity said Navy training could kill, injure, or harass wild marine mammals 12.5 million times over five years. However, Mark Xitco, director of the Navy Marine Mammal Program, told The New York Times in 2023 that no dolphins have ever died in combat, and the program complies with the Marine Mammal Protection Act. He stated, "I guess in theory there could be some other program around the corner that I'm not going to show you, where we're doing things that you wouldn't be comfortable with or others wouldn't be comfortable with. That's not the case."
Bottlenose dolphins can live for decades, and Navy dolphins live twice as long as wild dolphins, according to Xitco. The same applies to many animals in captivity. Eventually, technology like underwater drones may replace these marine mammals, but for now, they continue their work. Xitco added, "They will continue to serve the nation as that population of federal marine mammals that can be a resource for science. Until, someday, we're gone."
