Boats without sailors

@JudyEv (382019)
Rockingham, Australia
June 10, 2026 10:13pm CST
Probably it’s not news that Iran shot down an American Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter recently. The two airmen were rescued. After floating for about two hours, the men were picked up by a boat then hoisted to a helicopter. What I didn’t realise was that an unmanned 7.3-metre Saronic Corsair drone boat was used for the first time to rescue the men. The drones look like a speedboat, has a range of over 1,000 nautical miles, and travel at speeds of up to 35 knots, or about 65km/h. The advancement of technology never seems to stop, especially when it comes to warfare. You can read the article here which also has photos of the boat: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-10/sea-drone-rescue-us-helicopter-crew-strait-of-hormuz/106780070
9 people like this
9 responses
rakski
@rakski (156373)
• Philippines
1h
I didn't know that.
2 people like this
rakski
@rakski (156373)
• Philippines
11m
@JudyEv cars without drivers, now boats?
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
It was news to me too.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502392)
• Italy
2h
Sadly it seems that we are using technology more for wars than for creating a better life for people.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502392)
• Italy
1h
@JudyEv - It's sad, some great people invented things to help and they were used to create weapons.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
Yes, it does seem that way sometimes.
2 people like this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (86652)
• United States
4h
It’d be nice if they’d just let the technology fight, like those old rock’em sock’em robot toys, and leave humans out of war.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
4h
The whole war arena seems to be getting more and more like an online war game.
2 people like this
DE
@DaddyEvil (174373)
• United States
2h
I knew a helicopter had been shot down and the crew rescued but didn't pay attention to how they were rescued. Interesting about the un-manned boat that rescued them.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
I was the same. Just knew they'd been rescued.
1 person likes this
George B Vieto
@Deepizzaguy (122133)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
4h
I have heard stories from vloggers on You Tube mentioning that warfare these days includes the use of drones.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
4h
Soon we'll be wondering how we ever managed without them.
1 person likes this
Scott Ganschow
@teamfreak16 (43586)
• Denver, Colorado
3h
I had no idea these existed. And I get lots of military articles on Facebook, and they cover new equipment and stuff a lot.
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (34985)
• United Kingdom
1h
I had no idea either, and if you read the ABC article it seems they are only one of several types of uncrewed drone boats!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
Australia has something similar called the Bluebottle but I didn't read much about it. I find it amazing they can send this boat out without anyone on it.
1 person likes this
rsa101
@rsa101 (40974)
• Philippines
Just now
Drones have become a significant element in modern warfare. Ukraine has been using them to combat Russia, deploying long-distance drones equipped with bombs to target Russian territory. These drones do not require a human pilot on board, as they are controlled remotely. If they are down, only the machine is lost, not a human life, making them a safer option for operators. Additionally, drones are much more cost-effective compared to long-range missiles, which can cost millions to launch.
Fleur
@Fleura (34985)
• United Kingdom
1h
Gosh I didn't know that either! Although I confess I have stopped reading the news and only get the headlines on the radio a couple of times a day. But I didn't even know that drone boats were a 'thing', especially not that size!
1 person likes this
Fleur
@Fleura (34985)
• United Kingdom
1h
Having just read the article I see there are actually several different types of drone boats and submersibles in existence already!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
1h
@Fleura Australia has the Bluebottle which seems appropriate so bluebottles have stung many a swimmer over the years.
1 person likes this
Michael Duff
@Wrexxo (1735)
•
5m
Technology is advancing everyday and scientists are not stopping..I wonder what the world will look like in the next 50 years..I hope they end this war soon..too many lives are being lost