A US Navy surface drone rescued two US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter aviators after their aircraft crashed near the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Oman on June 8, 2026 [1, 2, 3]. The two crew members were rescued within roughly two hours and are in stable condition [1, 3].
The rescue was conducted by an uncrewed surface vessel operated by the US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59, which integrates unmanned vehicles and artificial intelligence into Navy operations in the Middle East [1, 2, 3]. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins said, "The surface drone that assisted in Monday’s rescue of the Apache crew off the coast of Oman was a US Navy Corsair unmanned surface vessel operated by US 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59" [1].
The 7-meter Corsair drone, made by Texas-based Saronic Technologies, was introduced to the region in March 2026 [1]. It located the aviators in the water, picked them up, and transferred them to a helicopter for further evacuation [1, 3]. The operation also involved support from the US Army’s 82nd Airborne Division, US Air Force, and other US Navy 5th Fleet assets [3].
This marks the first time the US military has used a drone to rescue personnel from the sea [1, 2, 3]. Bryan Clark, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, noted the drones are primarily used for surveillance but said the mission "highlights their versatility and ability to take on new missions" [1]. Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, former 5th Fleet commander, stated, "For pennies on the dollar we can put unmanned platforms out there, we can couple it with artificial intelligence and then, I think critically important, we can use our manned ships much more efficiently, much more effectively" [1].
The exact cause of the Apache crash remains under investigation and it is unclear if it was shot down by Iranian fire or suffered mechanical failure [2, 3]. Military officials publicly described details of the rescue and Task Force 59's role on June 10, 2026 [1].
