A U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessel successfully rescued two Army pilots after their AH-64 Apache helicopter crashed near Oman on Monday. Officials describe it as the first known use of a drone boat in a real-world military search-and-rescue mission.

The rescue happened near the Strait of Hormuz, an important shipping route that has been a focus during the conflict between the United States and Iran. According to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the two crew members were found in about two hours and are in stable condition.

The incident quickly got attention after President Donald Trump posted on social media that Iranian forces shot down the helicopter during a patrol. He also said the U.S. launched strikes against targets in Iran.

This rescue shows that autonomous systems are becoming more important in military missions, especially in dangerous areas at sea where quick action is needed.

Autonomous vessel takes on rescue role

A Corsair drone boat from the U.S. Navy’s Task Force 59 handled the rescue. This Bahrain-based group was set up to use more autonomous technology with regular military forces in the Middle East.

According to the U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, the drone boat found the two soldiers after they had been in the water for about two hours. CENTCOM said the rescue finished at 7:33 p.m. EDT on Monday.

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

This operation demonstrated how unmanned vessels can help with missions usually done by helicopters, ships, or rescue teams. Military leaders have been looking into using autonomous systems for surveillance, logistics, and security, but this is the first time their use in rescuing people has been made public.

"I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz. There were two pilots involved, both are safe and uninjured. Nevertheless, the United States… pic.twitter.com/yMGXqG89ax

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 9, 2026

Corsair drone designed for long-range missions

The Corsair drone boat is made by Saronic Technologies, a defense company in Texas. It is 24 feet long, looks like a speedboat, and is designed to work at sea for long periods.

The company said the vessel can travel over 1,000 nautical miles while carrying up to 1,000 pounds (453.5 kilograms). It can also reach 35 knots.

The U.S. Navy has invested heavily in the platform. In December 2025, Saronic received a $392 million contract to provide Corsair autonomous vessels.

Task Force 59 started using the drones in the Middle East in late March, according to Hawkins. Since then, the vessels have been used in security operations throughout the region.

Growing importance of unmanned systems

This successful rescue comes as the U.S. military is increasingly using autonomous platforms in CENTCOM’s area of operations. Task Force 59 uses both sea- and air-based drones to improve surveillance and give commanders a clearer view of what is happening in the region.

Senior military leaders have often said unmanned systems help track threats and watch busy sea routes. Since the U.S.-Iran conflict began in March, commanders have stressed how drones help improve awareness at sea. The Apache rescue now adds another milestone to that record. 

NASA’s experimental X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft hit a major milestone. During a test flight over California’s Mojave Desert, it broke the sound barrier for the first time. This achievement brings NASA closer to changing the future of commercial supersonic travel.

The X-59 took off from Edwards Air Force Base at 11:08 a.m. PDT, piloted by NASA test pilot Jim “Clue” Less. After flying for 81 minutes, the aircraft landed safely, finishing its first supersonic flight and starting a new phase of testing.

First supersonic flight validates aircraft performance

During the June 5 flight, the X-59 climbed to 43,400 feet and went faster than the speed of sound. It reached Mach 1.077, almost Mach 1.1, which is about 713 mph.

An F-15 chase plane flew alongside the X-59 during the flight, watching its behavior and gathering data. Although the main goal of breaking the sound barrier was met, researchers could not record the X-59’s sound signature. The F-15’s sonic boom was too loud for the sensors, so they could not pick out the X-59’s unique sound.

Still, this flight was a big achievement for NASA and its engineers. Since its first flight in October, the X-59 has done 16 test flights at lower speeds. This latest mission showed that the aircraft works as expected when it goes supersonic.

Aircraft built to reduce sonic boom noise

The X-59 was built to solve a key problem of reducing the loud sonic booms that have prevented supersonic travel over land.

The X-59 looks different from other supersonic planes. It has a long, narrow body and a sharp, stretched-out nose. Engineers designed it this way to spread out the shock waves, rather than letting them combine into a single strong pressure wave.

Traditional supersonic planes make a loud boom when their shock waves hit the ground. The X-59 is designed to be much quieter. Instead of a thunderous noise, people on the ground should hear a softer sound, like a car door closing in the distance. That quieter acoustic footprint is central to NASA’s broader goals for the aircraft.

Data could influence future aviation regulations

The X-59 is part of NASA’s Quesst mission, which aims to collect real flight data and hear what the public thinks about quieter supersonic flights.

Current U.S. regulations prohibit commercial supersonic flights over land due to the sonic boom issue. These rules have been in place since 1973, when technology could not solve the noise problem.

NASA hopes the X-59 will show that quieter supersonic planes can fly without disturbing people on the ground. If regulators agree the noise is low enough, these results could help change old aviation rules. If the rules change, passenger planes could one day fly faster over land while still keeping noise at acceptable levels.

Next test flight targets higher speeds

NASA worked with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to design and build the X-59. One of its standout features is an external vision system that replaces the usual forward cockpit view, which is blocked by the plane’s long nose.

Every flight provides engineers with new insights into how the plane flies and performs. This data will help shape future programs to make supersonic travel more efficient and quieter.

The next test flight is expected in a few days and will push the X-59 even further. NASA plans to fly it at about Mach 1.4 and 55,000 feet, which is closer to what commercial flights might look like.

This flight will also give NASA another chance to record the X-59’s unique sound using special sensors on the chase plane and microphones on the ground.

💾