All articles tagged with #task force 59
A US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter went down near the Strait of Hormuz off Oman. An American uncrewed surface drone, operated by Task Force 59, rescued the two crew members within about two hours; they are in stable condition. CENTCOM led the operation with support from the 82nd Airborne, the Air Force, and Navy units. The incident is under investigation and represents the first sea-drone rescue of its kind for US forces.
The U.S. military rescued two Army soldiers after an AH-64 Apache crashed into the sea near the Strait of Hormuz, using an unmanned surface drone—the first water-rescue by a U.S. drone. Both pilots are in stable condition and the incident is under investigation.
The US Navy has successfully tested a drone speedboat armed with Switchblade 300 loitering munitions, demonstrating its potential for close-in protection against swarms of small crewed and uncrewed boats. The test, part of the Digital Talon exercise in the Persian Gulf, showcased the Navy's interest in armed drone boats for defensive and offensive missions. The uncrewed surface vessel (USV) used in the test, MARTAC Devil Ray T38, was equipped with a six-round launcher loaded with Switchblade 300s. The combination of USVs and kamikaze drones offers quick response, precision engagement, and potential use in force protection and attacking maritime and land targets. The Navy's Task Force 59, focused on integrating uncrewed capabilities, continues to explore the operational potential of USVs in various contexts, including monitoring Iranian naval activity in the Middle East.