US military executes first maritime drone rescue in Strait of Hormuz
The incident marks a significant operational milestone for the US Navy’s integration of artificial intelligence and unmanned systems, occurring against a backdrop of halted shipping and heightened conflict in the Middle East.
US military officials confirmed that an uncrewed surface drone operated by the US Navy’s Task Force 59 rescued two US Army AH-64 Apache pilots from waters near the Strait of Hormuz on June 8, 2026. The operation, which took place off the coast of Oman, represents the first known use of a drone for a maritime search-and-rescue mission by the US military. The pilots were retrieved at 7:33 pm US Eastern Time and were reported to be in stable condition approximately two hours after the aircraft went down.
The rescue was conducted by a drone with a “speed boat-like design” operated by Task Force 59, which is based in Bahrain. This unit was established in 2024 to integrate uncrewed aerial, surface, and underwater vehicles, alongside artificial intelligence, into Fifth Fleet maritime operations. The successful retrieval demonstrates the operational viability of unmanned systems in combat search-and-rescue scenarios, a capability that Pentagon officials have increasingly prioritised in recent defence budgeting.
The cause of the Apache helicopter crash remains unclear. Anonymous US military officials told broadcast news outlets that it is not immediately known whether the aircraft was shot down by Iranian fire, experienced mechanical failure, or encountered another problem. The New York Times was the first to report the incident, citing a source briefed on the matter who noted the uncertainty surrounding the crash’s origins.
The incident occurs within a volatile security environment in the region. Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has effectively halted since joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, 2026. Iran has since claimed authority to determine which ships can pass through the strait, implementing a toll booth system for inspection and crypto payments, while periodically attacking commercial vessels using drones, missiles, and small boats. Since April, the US Navy has maintained a blockade targeting ships entering or leaving Iranian ports.
Prior to this rescue, US Army Apache helicopters had been actively engaged in the region’s conflict, including destroying six small Iranian boats near the Strait of Hormuz on May 4. Industry analysts note that pre-positioned drones could be particularly useful for future search-and-rescue operations in the Pacific, potentially supporting Pentagon drone requests as the US military prepares for potential confrontations with China’s navy and air forces.
