00:20Iran has released what it says is the first footage of a captured American unmanned underwater
00:27vehicle near the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy claims the U.S.
00:34underwater drone was seized at the entrance to the strategic waterway during what Iranian
00:39officials described as a complex intelligence and operational mission at dawn on September 8th.
00:46Iranian state media identified the vehicle as an Andurl Dive LD, a large autonomous underwater
00:54vehicle designed for missions ranging from surveillance and seabed mapping to mine warfare.
01:01The footage released by Iran appears to show the vehicle intact and being lifted from the water.
01:06The markings on the hull appear to be consistent with the Dive LD, although some of the lettering
01:12is worn and independent verification of the exact circumstances of the recovery remains limited.
01:18The capture claim comes as tensions remain extremely high around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the
01:25world's most important energy choke points. But Washington is pushing back against the Iranian
01:31portrayal of the incident. A Pentagon and CENTCOM spokesperson said an underwater drone had
01:37malfunctioned more than a day earlier while surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations.
01:44U.S. officials described the vehicle as an older model and said it did not collect sensitive
01:50information and was not carrying classified sonar or radar equipment.
01:56Andurl has also confirmed the loss of a Dive LD in the region. The company describes the system as an
02:02attritable autonomous platform, meaning it is specifically designed to operate in dangerous environments
02:08environments where the loss of the vehicle is considered an acceptable operational risk.
02:13So what exactly is the Dive LD? The autonomous underwater vehicle is roughly 5.8 meters long
02:21and around 1.2 meters in diameter. It can reportedly operate autonomously for up to around 10 days
02:28and has a maximum depth capability of approximately 6,000 meters, depending on configuration.
02:35Its modular design allows different payloads to be installed for missions including intelligence,
02:41surveillance and recon, seabed surveys, mine countermeasures, hydrographic operations,
02:48and underwater infrastructure inspection. The system was developed by Dive Technologies,
02:54which Andurl acquired in 2022. The U.S. Navy received its first Dive LD systems in 2025.
03:02And that makes the Iranian footage significant, even if the United States insists this particular
03:09vehicle did not contain sensitive technology. An intact underwater drone can potentially provide
03:15an adversary with an opportunity to examine its physical design, propulsion system, sensors,
03:22communications architecture, and other components. Iran has previously attempted to seize American
03:28unmanned systems operating in the region, including U.S. unmanned surface vessels. However, one major
03:35question remains unanswered. Was the Dive LD actually captured by Iranian forces, as Tehran claims,
03:43or was it simply recovered after suffering a malfunction? At this stage, the exact circumstances remain
03:50disputed. What is clear is that Iran now possesses, or at least claims to possess,
03:55the U.S., an American autonomous underwater vehicle, and it has released images and video to prove it.
04:02With the Strait of Hormuz already at the center of escalating military tensions, the recovery of an
04:08American UUV could add another dangerous layer to the confrontation beneath the surface. And further Iranian
04:15footage, or technical details, could reveal just how much information this particular vehicle may have
04:22carried. This is a developing story, and the details surrounding the Dive LD's mission, payload,
04:28and recovery are likely to become clearer as Washington and Tehran provide more information.
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