Iran Captures United States Unmanned Submersible Near Strait of Hormuz
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps captured an unmanned United States submarine near the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel, an Anduril Dive-LD model, was identified by Iranian state media as a modern, intelligent autonomous underwater vehicle. U.S. military officials stated that the drone had malfunctioned more than a day before the Iranian announcement. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for U.S. Central Command, confirmed the vessel was an older model that did not carry classified sonar or radar equipment and had collected no sensitive data. The drone was surveying regional waters to support ongoing operations. Anduril Industries, the manufacturer of the submersible, noted that the Dive-LD is an attritable system designed to operate in dangerous environments where loss is expected. The company stated the vehicle had already provided significant value during months of operations. This capture occurred during a period of escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran. The administration announced that the U.S. military struck three Iranian crude oil carriers in retaliation for ballistic missiles fired by Iran at two Navy warships.
Sources
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Did Iran capture a US submarine? What we know about the underwater drone
Al Jazeera
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U.S. denies claims Iran struck two American vessels in retaliation for earlier strikes
CNBC
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U.S. military’s Anduril Dive-LD drone was ‘dead in the water’ before Iran nabbed it
DefenseScoop