U.S. Army Helicopter Shot Down by Iran, Prompting Unmanned Rescue Operation
A U.S. Army Apache attack helicopter was shot down by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz, leading to a high-stakes rescue mission executed by a drone boat. This incident marks the first known instance of an unmanned vessel completing a rescue at sea. The helicopter went down off the coast of Oman, reportedly due to Iranian action. U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, alongside the 82nd Airborne, the U.S. Air Force, and U.S. 5th Fleet Task Force 59, launched a rescue operation. The rescue was completed within about two hours using a Saronic Corsair 24-foot unmanned patrol boat. The two airmen were safely rescued and are reportedly in stable condition. Iran has denied deliberately targeting the helicopter, but warned that foreign assets operating near its territory are at risk. 
