U.S. Navy's drone boat rescues two downed Apache pilots in first-ever autonomous search-and-rescue mission.
A U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel successfully rescued two Army pilots after their AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed near Oman on Monday. Officials describe it as the first known use of a drone boat in a real-world military search-and-rescue mission.
The rescue happened near the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route that has been a focus during the conflict between the United States and Iran. According to U.S. Central Command , the two crew members were found in about two hours and are in stable condition. The incident quickly got attention after President Donald Trump posted on social media that Iranian forces shot down the helicopter during a patrol.
He also said the U.S. launched strikes against targets in Iran.shows that autonomous systems are becoming more important in military missions, especially in dangerous areas at sea where quick action is needed.the rescue. This Bahrain-based group was set up to use more autonomous technology with regular military forces in the Middle East. According to the U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, the drone boat found the two soldiers after they had been in the water for about two hours.
CENTCOM said the rescue finished at 7:33 p.m. EDT on Monday.
“Rescue efforts were led by US Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from US Air Force and Navy units including US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59,” the statementcan help with missions usually done by helicopters, ships, or rescue teams. Military leaders have been looking into using autonomous systems for surveillance, logistics, and security, but this is the first time their use in rescuing people has been made public.
"I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured.
Nevertheless, the United States… The Corsair drone boat is made by Saronic Technologies, a defense company in Texas. It is 24 feet long, looks like a speedboat, and is designed to work at sea for long periods. The company said the vessel can travel over 1,000 nautical miles while carrying up to 1,000 pounds . It can also reach 35 knots.
The U.S. Navy has invested heavily in the platform. In December 2025, Saronic received a $392 million contract to provide Corsair autonomous vessels. Task Force 59 started using the drones in the Middle East in late March, according to Hawkins. Since then, theThis successful rescue comes as the U.S. military is increasingly using autonomous platforms in CENTCOM’s area of operations.
Task Force 59 uses both sea- and air-based drones to improve surveillance and give commanders a clearer view of what is happening in the region. Senior military leaders have often said unmanned systems help track threats and watch busy sea routes. Since the U.S.-Iran conflict began in March, commanders have stressed how drones help improve awareness at sea. The Apache rescue now adds another milestone to that record.
A versatile writer, Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24. When she isn't writing, you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies.
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