Wouldn't a 'drone boat' simply be a torpedo? Granted it isn't travelling underwater but still.
One of the reasons that 'drone boats' has not been an effective weapon in the past is that the hull speed of such a device makes it horribly susceptible to even "slow" 5" naval guns much less something like CWIS which can put a couple of tons of lead into it at a thousand meters.
Sure a drone boat is susceptible to defensive weapons — provided the target crew is alert and willing to shoot, and their systems are operational. The Royal Saudi Navy has a mediocre reputation. And in a confined area full of friendly and neutral vessels they obviously can't sink anything that comes within 1000m. A few seconds of delay can be fatal.
One of the reasons that 'drone boats' has not been an effective weapon in the past is that the hull speed of such a device makes it horribly susceptible to even "slow" 5" naval guns much less something like CWIS which can put a couple of tons of lead into it at a thousand meters.