An unmanned surface vessel (USV) operated by the U.S. Navy and developed by Saronic has rescued two crew members of an AH-64 Apache helicopter that crashed off the coast of Oman.
According to sea-news.az this is believed to be the first known rescue operation involving the recovery of personnel by an unmanned surface vessel.
According to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the helicopter crashed on June 8 during a routine patrol flight. Both pilots were rescued from the water within approximately two hours, and their condition was reported to be stable.
The rescue operation involved Saronic’s “Corsair” unmanned vessel. The USV recovered the pilots from the water and transported them to a designated location, where they were subsequently evacuated by helicopter.
Experts describe the operation as a significant milestone in the use of autonomous maritime systems for real-world search-and-rescue and maritime security missions. The successful rescue demonstrates the growing potential of unmanned vessels to support emergency response operations and enhance safety at sea.
