Meet Vibhav Altekar, the Indian-origin engineer whose company drone helped the US rescue mission near the Strait of Hormuz | Today’s news
Two crew members from a US Army AH-64 Apache helicopter that crashed near the Strait of Hormuz were successfully rescued by the Corsair autonomous surface craft, an unmanned boat built by Saronic Technologies, a Texas-based company co-founded by Indian-American entrepreneur Vibhav Altekar.
The operation marked a historical milestone for the US military. While the armed forces have long relied on unmanned aerial systems, this was the first rescue mission conducted using an autonomous surface craft. According to Captain Tim Hawkins, the Corsair was controlled remotely by a human operator, making it the first rescue operation of its kind in the US by a drone, according to PTI.
The AH-64 Apache helicopters have been an important part of US military operations aimed at restricting Iranian oil exports and tanker movements as part of efforts to get Tehran to negotiate. Helicopters have also been deployed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in operations to intercept and destroy Iranian drones.
Who is Vibhav Altekar?
Vibhav Altekar, who earned a degree in electrical engineering from the University of California, serves as chief technology officer of Saronic Technologies.
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According to his profile on the company’s website, Altekar oversees the development of Saronic’s autonomous technologies and software infrastructure. He leads several key functions, including Forward Deployed Engineering, Product, Special Programs, and Software, working with multidisciplinary teams focused on perception, navigation, machine learning, command and control systems, and systems integration.
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Recognized for his expertise in autonomous systems and naval technologies, Altekar is an experienced perception engineer who has played a significant role in advancing technology for the US Department of Defense throughout his career.
About the company and the unmanned boat
The Corsair is a 24-foot autonomous diesel powered surface craft. It can reach speeds of up to 35 knots, carry loads of up to 1,000 pounds, and operate at distances in excess of 1,000 nautical miles.
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According to Saronic Technologies’ LinkedIn page, the company has secured a $392 million manufacturing contract with the US Navy for autonomous surface vessels. Austin-based Saronic Technologies was founded in September 2022 by Dino Mavrookas, who served as a Navy SEAL for 11 years, along with three co-founders: Vibhav Altekar, Doug Lambert and Rob Lehman.
US and Iran exchange fire
Meanwhile, the US carried out airstrikes against Iran early Wednesday, accusing Tehran of being responsible for the downing of a US Apache attack helicopter.
In response, Iran launched attacks on targets in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan, escalating the conflict and raising fears that ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the war could collapse.
Authorities in Bahrain and Kuwait activated warning systems and deployed air defense measures after Iranian strikes hit sites in both countries. Jordan announced the interception and destruction of five Iranian missiles aimed at a military base hosting US personnel.
Since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, the conflict has disrupted global markets, pushed up energy prices and contributed to higher prices of basic goods, including food.
Diplomatic efforts to turn a cease-fire reached in April into a lasting peace deal have stalled, particularly as Israel continues its military campaign against Hezbollah, the Iran-backed armed group in Lebanon.
The Apache helicopter incident and the subsequent US strikes have put further pressure on the fragile truce, which has already been tested by the first direct firefight between Iran and Israel since the truce took effect. Iranian state media said Israeli strikes on Tuesday killed at least two members of the country’s air defense forces.
