US Army AH-64 Apache Crashes Near Strait of Hormuz; Unmanned Surface Vessel Completes First-Ever Military Search and Rescue
A US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz with both crew members surviving. A USV (Unmanned Surface Vessel) carried out the rescue — reportedly the first time an autonomous unmanned vessel has recovered personnel in a military SAR operation. Investigators are examining whether an Iranian drone downed the aircraft.
Highlights
- A US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed near the Strait of Hormuz on June 9, 2026, with both crew members surviving.
- An autonomous Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) carried out the rescue — reportedly the first USV-based personnel recovery in military SAR history.
- US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the successful rescue but has not disclosed which USV system was used.
- US officials are investigating whether an Iranian drone shot down the Apache helicopter.
- The incident highlights the dual role of unmanned systems as both potential attack platforms and life-saving rescue tools on the modern battlefield.
US Army Apache Helicopter Crashes Near Strait of Hormuz — USV Makes Military Search-and-Rescue History
A US Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter reportedly crashed near the Strait of Hormuz, with both crew members surviving. According to US officials, the crew was rescued by an Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) — believed to be the first known instance of an autonomous unmanned vessel recovering personnel from the water during a military search-and-rescue (SAR) operation.
USV Located and Transported Survivors
Reports indicate that the USV located the crew members after the helicopter went down and transported them to a safe location before handing them over to US military forces. US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the successful rescue mission, though specific details about the USV system used have not been disclosed.
Investigation Into Possible Iranian Drone Involvement
The incident has drawn additional scrutiny because, according to Axios, US officials are investigating whether the Apache was shot down by an Iranian drone. While the exact cause of the crash reportedly remains under investigation, the possibility that drones featured on both sides of the event — as a potential attack platform and as a rescue platform — has attracted significant attention from military analysts.
The Dual Role of Unmanned Systems in Combat and Rescue
If the investigation confirms Iranian drone involvement, this incident would represent a rare case in which unmanned systems played central roles on both the offensive and humanitarian sides of a single military event. It underscores the increasingly diverse applications of unmanned systems on the modern battlefield and offers new insights into how military SAR operations may evolve in the future.
Sources: Axios, Reuters, US Central Command (CENTCOM), June 9, 2026
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