Two crewmen from a downed U.S. Army helicopter were picked up by a Navy surface drone near the Strait of Hormuz Tuesday, in a first for the rapidly expanding unmanned fleet.
A 24’ Saronics Corsair drone made the pickup after the crew’s AH-64 attack helicopter crashed June 8 after being fired on by Iranian forces, according to U.S. military officials.
The soldiers were in stable condition after two hours in the water, and details of the apparent shootdown are under investigation, spokesman Navy Capt. Tim Hawkins told media organizations. After the drone pickup the aviators were taken to another location at sea and then picked up by helicopter.
Austin-based Saronic Technologies’ Corsair platform is a 24' modular autonomous surface vessel capable of carrying roughly 1,000 lbs. over 1,000 nautical miles and achieving speeds greater than 35 knots. The company says it’s capable of suitable bluewater missions, ranging from maritime domain awareness to kinetic and non-kinetic strike roles.
In December 2025 the Navy awarded Saronic a $392 million contract for the vessels, and they began deployment during the Iran war in March.
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. Task Force 59 specializes in the use of drones at sea.
The helicopter was patrolling near Oman’s coast and the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow waterway, a conduit for around 20% of global fossil fuel supply, has been effectively closed for more than 100 days.
