Iran says captured US underwater drone in Strait of Hormuz

On Tuesday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards announced the capture of a US unmanned submarine near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. The state-run media reported that the vessel was an Anduril-built Dive-LD, a 5.8-meter (19-foot) submersible capable of mine countermeasures, seabed mapping, intelligence gathering, and underwater infrastructure inspection. The Revolutionary Guards Navy claimed the captured sub was equipped with the latest technologies.

In response, a Pentagon spokesperson stated that the unmanned drone had "malfunctioned more than a day ago." The spokesperson clarified that the drone was an older model, not collecting sensitive data or carrying any classified sonar or radar equipment. The drone was reportedly surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations.

While Reuters could not independently verify Iran's claims, the Pentagon did not address them in its statement. Anduril, the California defense firm that manufactured the captured sub, did not provide a comment. The US military is increasingly investing in unmanned naval systems, including both underwater and surface vessels, to monitor vast ocean areas, gather intelligence, and track adversary ships and submarines without risking human lives.

According to Anduril's website, the Dive-LD can operate for up to 10 days without returning to base and can dive to depths of up to 6,000 meters (19,700 feet). The submersible units are priced at approximately $2.5 million each, as reported by the US military news site DefenseScoop in 2024.