Iran says it captured a US submarine drone in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had captured what they described as one of the most advanced unmanned submarines operated by the “terrorist American army” at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian state media identified the vessel as a Dive-LD, a 19-foot autonomous underwater vehicle built by California defense company Anduril. The company says the submersible can perform mine countermeasures, map the seabed, gather intelligence and inspect underwater infrastructure, including cables and pipelines.

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We trapped one of the most modern, intelligent and unmanned submarines of the terrorist American army at the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz. This submersible is equipped with the latest technologies.

The Pentagon offered a sharply different account. A spokesperson said an underwater drone had “malfunctioned more than a day ago” while surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations. The spokesperson described it as an older model that “neither collected sensitive data nor carried any classified sonar or radar equipment.”

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malfunctioned more than a day ago

Reuters could not independently verify Iran’s claim, and Anduril did not respond to a request for comment. The episode offers a rare glimpse into the use of underwater drones as the US military invests in unmanned naval systems to monitor large ocean areas, gather intelligence and track ships and submarines without putting sailors at risk.

According to Anduril’s website, the Dive-LD can operate for up to 10 days without returning to base and dive as deep as 6,000 metres. DefenseScoop reported in 2024 that each unit costs about $2.5 million.

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neither collected sensitive data nor carried any classified sonar or radar equipment