The US Navy’s unmanned surface vehicle was used in a rescue operation near the Strait of Hormuz involving two Army pilots reportedly shot down by Iran. Officials stated this was the first rescue operation conducted at sea using a drone.
The operation took place off the coast of Oman on Monday and was remotely controlled by an operator. The pilots were first taken aboard the unmanned vehicle, then transferred to another location, and finally extracted from the water by helicopter.
US Expands Autonomous Systems in the Middle East
The incident occurred amid the US Navy’s ongoing efforts to increase the use of unmanned technologies in Middle Eastern missions. It was noted that Task Force 59 of the US Central Command’s 5th Fleet operated the Corsair unmanned surface vehicle used in the rescue.
Task Force 59 was announced in 2021 to focus on testing and deploying unmanned systems and artificial intelligence. At the time, 5th Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Brad Cooper said these systems enable missions over wider areas at lower costs.
The manufacturer, Saronic Technologies, described the Corsair as a 24-foot-long, diesel-powered platform capable of autonomous maritime operations. The company stated the vehicle can be launched and recovered from ships and remain on mission for extended periods without returning to port.
In tests conducted in January, Saronic reported that the Corsair can operate under conditions that human operators cannot endure and can stay at sea for over 50 days. This capability could reduce costs, risks, and fatigue associated with crewed operations.
Experts Say the Rescue Broadens the Use Cases for Unmanned Vehicles
Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute called the vehicle’s role in the rescue surprising. Clark noted that such vehicles are typically used for surveillance but demonstrated versatility through this operation.
Scott Savitz from the Rand Corporation said the US is increasingly focused on effectively employing these systems. He highlighted that CENTCOM and the US Navy’s Central Command have played leading roles in trials, which have shown positive results.
Savitz also pointed out the technical challenges of using unmanned maritime vehicles in the Gulf, where warmer and saltier waters pose additional durability tests for these systems.
The report noted that other autonomous maritime vehicles are used in the region for air defense, surveillance, submarine tracking, and mine clearance. Experts believe the recent rescue demonstrated that these vehicles can be effective not only in offensive roles but also in humanitarian and rescue missions.
