The CIA has successfully used a classified tool called “Ghost Murmur” for the first time in the field to locate and support the rescue of a U.S. airman stranded in southern Iran after his F-15 jet was shot down, according to a report.
The operation ended with the airman safely recovered and no American casualties reported. The weapons systems officer, known publicly only as “Dude 44 Bravo,” had been hiding in a mountain crevice while evading Iranian search teams. The relatively barren desert terrain provided what sources described as an ideal environment for the new system.
The secret technology uses long-range quantum magnetometry to find the electromagnetic fingerprint of a human heartbeat and pairs the data with artificial intelligence software to isolate the signature from background noise.
'Ghost Murmur,' a never-used secret tool, finds airman in Iran: 'If your heart is beating, we will find you' https://t.co/2g2vs7Ow1D pic.twitter.com/ItBv9hrMxU
— New York Post (@nypost) April 7, 2026
“It’s like hearing a voice in a stadium, except the stadium is a thousand square miles of desert,” the report notes, quoting a source.
“In the right conditions, if your heart is beating, we will find you,” the source continued, adding “The name is deliberate. ‘Murmur’ is a clinical term for a heart rhythm. ‘Ghost’ refers to finding someone who, for all practical purposes, has disappeared…”
Advances in a field known as quantum magnetometry, specifically sensors built around microscopic defects in synthetic diamonds, have apparently made it possible to detect these signals at dramatically greater distances.
President Trump disclosed during a White House briefing that the CIA located the officer from about “40 miles away.” CIA Director John Ratcliffe alluded to the agency’s advanced methods without revealing specifics, noting the CIA possessed “unique capabilities.”
NEW: The CIA used a secret tool called "Ghost Murmur" that uses AI to find heartbeats to rescue the U.S. airman who was stranded in Iran, according to the New York Post.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 7, 2026
The secret technology was allegedly used for the first time in the field, according to the Post.
"The… pic.twitter.com/3IOmUgQIte
The report further outlines that the tool was developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works advanced division and had previously been tested on Black Hawk helicopters for potential future integration on platforms like the F-35. It excels in remote, low-electromagnetic-interference areas where traditional signals can be difficult to isolate.
The rescue came amid reports that sensitive details about the ongoing search for the second crew member had been leaked to the media, potentially alerting adversaries and complicating efforts to extract the airman safely.
President Trump addressed the matter directly, promising accountability for those responsible.
“So whoever it was, we think we’ll be able to find it out because we’re going to the media company that released it and we’re going to say, national security, give it up or go to jail! There’s some things you can’t do…”
Donald Trump promises jail time for those responsible for leaking information on the missing pilot
— Wall Street Apes (@WallStreetApes) April 7, 2026
“So whoever it was, we think we'll be able to find it out because we're going to the media company that released it and we're going to say, national security, give it up or go to… pic.twitter.com/EB0ukUZSn8
Initial reports indicating one crew member had been rescued while the search continued for the second — the weapons systems officer — first appeared via an Israeli journalist before being picked up by U.S. outlets. Officials have said such disclosures risked tipping off Iranian forces during the active operation.
The airman had activated a survival beacon sparingly while evading capture. Coordinated U.S. forces, including special operations teams, conducted a deception effort to draw attention away from his position. The Ghost Murmur system provided the precise confirmation needed in suitable conditions.
This marks the first known operational use of the quantum-based technology in a real-world personnel recovery mission. Officials have remained circumspect about additional details of its capabilities or future applications, citing classification concerns.
The successful recovery underscores ongoing advancements in quantum sensing and artificial intelligence for intelligence and search-and-rescue missions. While the broader context involves heightened tensions with Iran, the focus of the operation remained on bringing an American service member home safely.
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