With the cease-fire proving tenuous, negotiations between the two nations are in flux, but have advanced to outline potential paths forward on difficult questions about Iran’s nuclear program.
President Trump said in a Truth Social post that Iran shot down a U.S. Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, with both soldiers rescued by an unmanned boat off the coast of Oman.
Two crew members of the Apache helicopter that crashed following the attack were rescued by an American sea drone.
'We can't let them, and I know the president's not gonna let them get away with this'
The crew of a U.S. Apache attack helicopter shot down by Iran was rescued by a drone-boat known as Corsair.Why it matters: It was a first-of-its-kind operation, with incredibly high stakes. It also offers a glimpse at future warfare, in which humans and smart, militarized machinery operate alongside one another.Driving the news: A spokesperson for Central Command, which oversees American military action across the greater Middle East, told Axios the Corsair "picked up" the crew and "transported them to another location on the water," where they were then "hoisted up to a helicopter."Both crew members are in stable condition.President Trump blamed Iran for shooting down the AH-64 Apache, which is made by Boeing, and vowed a military response.The intrigue: Saronic advertises Corsair as autonomous. It was not immediately clear how it was piloted during the rescue mission.It was operated by the Navy's Task Force 59, which was established in 2021 to experiment with unmanned tech and artificial intelligence and fold them into naval operations.Navy leadership has for years advocated for a hybrid fleet, or a mix of manned and unmanned ships.By the numbers: The Corsair, unveiled in October 2024, is 24 feet long. It can travel 1,000 nautical miles, carry 1,000 pounds and hit speeds greater than 35 knots. The Corsair is so much larger than two vessels previously unveiled by Saronic, Spyglass and Cutlass, that the fuel onboard weighs more than the other two boats combined.Follow the money: The Navy in December revealed it had inked a $392 million contract with Saronic for drone-boat production.Saronic CEO Dino Mavrookas started his career in the Navy and spent years with SEAL Team Six.Go deeper: Saronic will build 150-foot drone boats at Louisiana shipyardBarak Ravid contributed reporting.
President Donald Trump said the US must respond after he blamed Iran for shooting down an American military helicopter off Oman, posing a new threat to the peace deal he’s said for weeks is close.
President Trump on Tuesday blamed Iran for shooting down an American Apache helicopter overnight and said a response was necessary. “I have just been informed by our Great Military that last night the Iranians shot down one of our highly sophisticated Apache Helicopters while patrolling over the Strait of Hormuz,” Trump posted on his social…
