Indian-Origin Tech Executive Behind Drone Boat That Helped Rescue US Pilots

Amid rising tensions in West Asia following military confrontations between the United States and Iran, a drone boat played a crucial role in rescuing American pilots after an Apache helicopter incident. The operation has drawn attention to Saronic Technologies, the company behind the autonomous vessel known as Corsair. Notably, Indian-origin technology executive Vibhav Altekar is a co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of the Texas-based company.

Established in 2022, Saronic Technologies specializes in autonomous maritime systems and has secured a $392 million contract with the US Navy for autonomous surface vessels. According to his professional profile, Vibhav Altekar studied Electrical Engineering at the University of California and leads the company’s autonomous systems and software architecture divisions. The 24-foot-long Corsair drone boat can travel at speeds of up to 35 knots, operate remotely over distances of 1,000 nautical miles, and carry payloads of up to 1,000 pounds, making it a key asset in modern naval operations.