Navy Drone Boat Rescues US Helicopter Crew in First
A remote-controlled speedboat saved two US service members floating in dangerous waters for two hours, marking the first time the Navy used a drone for rescue. The successful mission shows how technology can save lives without putting more people at risk.
When a US Army helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz, help arrived in the form of a 24-foot robot boat racing across the water at 65 kilometers per hour.
Two crew members floated at the crash site for about two hours before the Corsair drone boat reached them. The remotely-piloted vessel picked them up and carried them to a safer location where a helicopter could complete the rescue.
Both service members are now in stable condition. President Trump confirmed they were safe and uninjured.
The Corsair drone boat, built by US company Saronic Technologies, looks like a sleek speedboat but operates with minimal human interaction. It can carry up to 454 kilograms and travel more than 1,000 nautical miles, making it perfect for missions where every second counts.
The Navy chose the drone because of "proximity and capability factors," according to US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins. The boat was nearby and could respond faster than traditional rescue vessels.
The Bright Side
This rescue shows how new technology can protect rescuers while saving lives. In the highly volatile waters near the Strait of Hormuz, sending a crewed rescue boat would have put even more people in danger.
"You can send in a boat that's really fast, it's a small target, and if the first one gets blown up, you send another one because you're not putting humans in danger," explained Marcus Hellyer, head of research at Strategic Analysis Australia.
The Corsair operates as part of Task Force 59, the US Navy's first unit dedicated to uncrewed systems. The taskforce, based in Bahrain and created in 2021, began deploying these drones in the Middle East just two months ago.
Defense experts say this successful rescue marks an important evolution in how drones are used in military and humanitarian operations. While sea drones have been used for surveillance and mine detection, using them to save lives opens new possibilities.
Similar technology is already helping in other conflicts. Ukraine has experimented with land drones that collect injured troops from battlefields, keeping medics out of the most dangerous zones.
The successful rescue proves that sometimes the best way to save lives is to keep rescuers out of harm's way while still getting help to those who need it most.
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Based on reporting by ABC Australia
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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