In “a first-of-its-kind operation,” an unmanned U.S. vessel found and rescued two crew members from an American Apache helicopter that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz.
According to an article on X published by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), at 7:33 p.m. ET on June 8, the crew from a U.S. Army AH-64 Apache was rescued by “U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and the 82nd Airborne Division, with support from U.S. Air Force and Navy units including U.S. 5th Fleet’s Task Force 59” after their helicopter went down while patrolling regional waters.
CENTCOM spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins and CENTCOM confirm that a Task Force 59 unmanned surface vessel – the drone boat – located the soldiers and brought them to shore within roughly two hours of the aircraft’s crash.
Both sources also affirmed that the soldiers returned in stable condition and were receiving medical care.
The cause of the incident is reportedly under investigation, with U.S. officials aiming to examine whether Iranian forces shot down the aircraft.
Iran Acknowledges The Event
According to NBC News, Iran’s semi-official Mehr News Agency acknowledged the event, reporting that Iran had not taken responsibility for it.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has also yet to issue a statement.
What Is Task Force 59?
The unmanned vessel is a part of Task Force 59, “a new task group focused on unmanned operations,” launched in Sept. 2021 by CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper during his time leading the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet in the Middle East.
“Task Force 59 is the Navy’s first Unmanned and Artificial Intelligence Task Force”, which “integrates unmanned systems and artificial intelligence with maritime operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet” to “help ensure maritime security and stability in the Middle East region,” according to the U.S. Navy’s website.
Another One Bites The Dust
The helicopter’s loss adds to the list of U.S. aircraft destroyed in accidents or enemy fire during “Operation Epic Fury.”
Four F-15E Strike Eagle jet fighters, three of which were mistakenly downed by friendly fire over Kuwait during the beginning of the conflict and one that was downed in Iran, which resulted in a dramatic rescue mission of its two pilots.
