The IRGC, on its information website, also introduced the captured submarine as Dive-LD, saying it is a product of Anduril Industries, an American company manufacturing advanced autonomous systems and defense technology to protect US and its allied forces.
It further said that Dive-LD, which was delivered to the US Navy last year, is about 5.8 meters long and weighs nearly three tons and is designed to independently carry out long missions in deep waters.
US confirms underwater drone malfunction, Iran claims seizure
The US military confirmed on Tuesday that one of its unmanned underwater vehicles malfunctioned in the Middle East more than a day ago, after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had seized an American submersible near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz.
A US official told Reuters that the vehicle was an older model and carried no classified sonar equipment.
A US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson separately told Al Jazeera that the unmanned vehicle malfunctioned during a water-survey mission in the region about a day earlier.
Underwater Drone Captured By Iran Matches American Anduril Model
An underwater drone shown by Iran closely matches the American-designed Anduril Dive-LD model. The large AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) was captured in the Straits of Hormuz earlier today.
Iran’s IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) claims to have captured an American underwater drone. While currently uncorroborated, evidence shared by the IRGC through public channels appears credible.
The photograph shared online of a partially submerged drone closely matches the American-built Anduril Dive-LD underwater drone. As well as the overall form, numerous small details match the design including flood holes, fastenings and the small transparent mast forward.
The Dive-LD may have been used for ISR (intelligence surveillance & reconnaissance), or mine hunting (MCM – mine countermeasures). It could also, conceivably, be armed.
Dive LD AUV
The large-displacement AUV (autonomous underwater vehicle) is about 5.8 meters (19 feet) long, 2 m (4 ft) in diameter and weighs around 3 tons. It is a long endurance design intended for multi-day missions. Anduril state that it has “Extensive open interfaces, generous payload bays”, and that “the use of additive manufacturing enable rapid integration of a variety of sensors and effectors for customized defense and commercial mission sets.” From the photograph available at this time it is unclear which payload is carried.
The Dive-LD is known to be in U.S. Navy service, specifically with Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Group (UUVGRU) 1 and Undersea Vehicle Squadron (UUVRON) 3, but little has been reported abouit it. Anduril are supplying the U.S. Navy with the larger Dive-XL design, which is similar to the Australian Navy’s Ghost Shark design.
Advancing Iranian Underwater Drone Technology
The Dive-LD is significantly more sophisticated than local Iranian designs. However Iran has been a pioneer of weaponised underwater drones and builds several types, at least two of which were supplied to the Houthi Movement in Yemen. Analysis of interdicted arms shipments to the Houthis reveals pragmatic designs which have been evolved over time.
Access to the Dive-LD may further enhance Iranian underwater drone capabilities. Or possibly it will be shared with Iran’s allies such as Russia or China.
