U.S. sea drone used in helicopter crew rescue off Oman coast

A U.S. military sea drone rescued two crew members from a downed helicopter off the coast of Oman earlier this week, according to the U.S. military. The two soldiers were safely rescued within approximately two hours and are in stable condition, U.S. Central Command said.

Details of the sea drone The drone, called Corsair, is made by a Texas-based maritime drone manufacturing company. It measures 24 feet long, can carry 1,000 pounds, and travels at more than 35 knots. The vessel has a 360-degree camera, radar system, and electronic radio sensor.

The U.S. Navy has about 50 of them, primarily used for mine detection and surveillance. The drone is operated by Task Force 59, created in 2021. The U.S. began deploying it in the Middle East in March. The Navy awarded the manufacturer a $392 million production contract last year.

How the rescue unfolded The drone was likely controlled remotely by an operator during the mission. It was selected due to proximity and capability factors, a Centcom spokesman said. The crew members were picked up at about 03:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday and taken to another location on the water before being hoisted to a helicopter.

Use of sea drones elsewhere Sea drones have been used in the Ukraine-Russia war, where Ukraine has deployed explosive-laden versions against Russian ships. Yemen's Houthi rebels and Iran have also operated drone boats. The Corsair is larger than most Ukrainian vessels and is not designed to carry explosives.