U.S. Navy Drone Boat Rescues Apache Crew in First-of-Its-Kind Mission Over Gulf of Oman

The U.S. Navy has confirmed that a Saronic Corsair drone boat was used to rescue the crew of an AH-64 Apache helicopter after it went down near the Strait of Hormuz overnight, marking the first time such technology has been employed for search and rescue operations. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the unmanned surface vessel (USV) operated by Task Force 59 of the U.S. Navy's Fifth Fleet assisted in recovering the Apache crew from the Gulf of Oman waters.

The Saronic Corsair, a 24-foot-long drone boat with a speedboat-like design, was first unveiled in 2024 and can travel up to 35 knots at top speed and cover distances of up to 1,000 nautical miles. It has a payload capacity of 1,000 pounds, making it suitable for various maritime missions including surveillance and now search and rescue operations.

The Apache crew spent approximately two hours in the water before being picked up by the Corsair USV and transported to another location where they were hoisted into a helicopter for further transport. President Donald Trump has separately stated that Iranian forces are responsible for shooting down the Apache, and he warned of an imminent U.S. response.

Since its establishment in 2021, Task Force 59 has been instrumental in expanding the use of uncrewed platforms across the Middle East, including various types of USVs and unmanned aerial systems. The successful deployment of the Saronic Corsair highlights the growing importance of autonomous technology in naval operations and sets a new precedent for future search and rescue missions involving uncrewed vessels.