Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced Tuesday that they had captured a U.S. uncrewed submarine near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The Guards' Navy stated that the vessel was one of the most advanced and intelligent unmanned submarines belonging to the U.S. military, equipped with the latest technologies.
Iranian state media identified the captured craft as a Dive-LD, a large autonomous underwater vehicle manufactured by the California-based defense firm Anduril. According to Anduril, the 19-foot submersible is capable of performing missions such as mine countermeasures, seabed mapping, intelligence gathering, and inspecting underwater infrastructure like cables and pipelines. The company stated that the Dive-LD can operate for up to 10 days on a single mission and is designed to reach depths of up to 19,700 feet. The approximate cost for each Dive-LD unit is $2.5 million, according to DefenseScoop.
A Pentagon spokesperson responded to the claim by stating that a U.S. underwater drone had malfunctioned more than 24 hours prior to the announcement. The spokesperson clarified that the drone was surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations and was an older model that did not collect sensitive data or carry classified equipment.
Anduril confirmed the loss of one of its vessels, characterizing the Dive-LD as an "attritable autonomous system." The company spokesperson added that such systems are designed to operate in hazardous environments where losing a vehicle is a possibility.
The U.S. military is increasing its investment in unmanned naval systems, including both underwater and surface vessels. This strategic shift aims to find more cost-effective methods for monitoring large oceanic areas, gathering intelligence, and tracking adversary vessels and submarines without risking personnel.