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Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced on September 8 that their forces captured a U.S. unmanned underwater vessel near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state media identified the craft as a Dive-LD, a 19-foot autonomous underwater vehicle manufactured by the California-based defense firm Anduril.
In a statement, the Revolutionary Guards Navy described the vessel as one of the most modern and intelligent unmanned systems belonging to the U.S. military, claiming it was equipped with advanced technology. The force stated that the craft was intercepted at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
The U.S. Department of Defense provided a different account of the incident. A U.S. defense official stated that the underwater drone had experienced a technical failure more than 24 hours before Iran announced its capture. The official noted that the vessel was operating in regional waters as part of routine U.S. military activities. Furthermore, the Pentagon characterized the drone as an older model that did not contain sensitive information or classified sonar and radar equipment.
Anduril confirmed that one of its underwater vessels had been lost but characterized the incident as minor. The company stated that the Dive-LD is designed as an expendable autonomous system intended for operations in hazardous environments where the loss of a vehicle is a possibility.
According to Anduril, the Dive-LD is capable of remaining at sea for up to 10 days and can operate at depths of 6,000 meters. The vehicle is designed to perform tasks such as mapping the seabed, clearing naval mines, collecting intelligence, and inspecting underwater infrastructure like pipelines and communication cables. Reports from 2024 indicated that each unit has an approximate cost of US$2.5 million.
The incident has drawn attention to the increasing reliance on autonomous underwater drones for military operations. The U.S. military has been investing in such technology to monitor large maritime areas and track foreign vessels without placing personnel at risk.
Article and image source: iranherald.com
