NEW: U.S. Deployed Never Before Used Autonomous Vehicle To Rescue Downed Apache Crew

The U.S. Military deployed a new unmanned surface vessel for the first time on Tuesday, June 9, as part of a mission to rescue a downed air crew after an Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. Officials have stated that an Iranian drone caused the crash and are currently working to determine whether it was intentional.

A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter went down near the coast of Oman while conducting a patrol in regional waters associated with the Strait of Hormuz, the Pentagon confirmed Tuesday. The two crew members were rescued within approximately two hours and are reported to be in stable condition.

“At 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8, two crew members from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache were rescued by American forces after their helicopter went down near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters. The Soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition. The cause of the incident is under investigation,” U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed in a press release.

“Rescue efforts were led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from U.S. Air Force and Navy units including U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59.”

A U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel (USV), specifically a Corsair autonomous surface vessel manufactured by Saronic, located the crew in the water. The crew boarded the vessel, which then transported them to a location where they were hoisted aboard a helicopter for further movement.

ENTCOM spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed details of the operation. He stated that the drone “picked them up and transported them to another location on the water where they were hoisted up to a helicopter for further transport.”

Hawkins added that this was “an operational first for the U.S. Military” and noted that Task Force 59 began fielding these drones in theater in late March.

According to the Washington Post’s @DanLamothe, the U.S. Navy drone that aided in the rescue of two U.S. Apache helicopter crew members was a Saronic Technologies Corsair unmanned surface vessel (USV). First deployed in the U.S. Central Command AOR in March of this year, the USV… pic.twitter.com/WDE3QF45eA

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 9, 2026

Task Force 59, established in 2021 and based with the U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, focuses on integrating unmanned systems and artificial intelligence into maritime operations in the region. The deployment of the Corsair USV in this personnel recovery represents one of the first publicly documented uses of such a vessel for a live rescue at sea.

The Corsair is described as a 24-foot (7.3-meter) autonomous vessel capable of carrying significant payloads over long distances.

President Donald Trump has indicated that the crash is currently under investigation and vowed a military response if the attack was found to be intentional. Iran has thus far denied an intentional attack.

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