Unmanned drone boat rescues 2 US crew members after helicopter downed by Iran
Summary
Two U.S. Army helicopter crew members were rescued by an unmanned drone boat after their Apache helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz. U.S. officials said Iran caused the crash, and the rescue marked the first time an unmanned surface drone saved crew members at sea.Key Facts
- The AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed on June 8, 2026, near the Strait of Hormuz.
- Two crew members were safely rescued about two hours after the crash.
- The rescue was done by an unmanned surface vessel called the U.S. Navy Corsair drone.
- The Corsair is operated by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s Task Force 59, which uses drones for surveillance and reconnaissance.
- President Donald Trump said the military blamed Iran for shooting down the helicopter and promised a U.S. response.
- Task Force 59 began using these surface drones in the Middle East in March 2026.
- The unmanned drones help detect smuggling and hostile activities by using artificial intelligence to analyze sensor data.
- The cost of one drone boat is about $1.2 million, much cheaper than traditional manned military vessels.
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