Overview
- An AH-64 Apache went down near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday and two crew entered the water before being located by US forces.
- A 24-foot Saronic Corsair operated by Task Force 59 reached the site, carried the two crew to a staging point about two hours after the crash, and they were then hoisted into a helicopter and reported in stable condition.
- CENTCOM says the cause of the helicopter loss remains under investigation while President Trump and some U.S. officials have publicly accused Iran of responsibility.
- The Corsair is a remotely piloted unmanned surface vessel with a roughly 1,000‑nautical‑mile range, 35‑knot top speed and about a 1,000‑pound payload capacity, and Saronic won a major production agreement late last year to supply the Navy.
- The mission marks the first publicly known U.S. personnel recovery by a sea drone and could speed wider operational use, but analysts note limits from harsh sea conditions, limited onboard medical care, and risks from jamming or crowded waterways.