00:00Thank you for listening.
00:43Iran has released what it says is the first footage of a captured American unmanned underwater
00:50vehicle near the Strait of Hormuz.
00:53The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy claims the U.S. underwater drone was seized
00:59at the entrance to the strategic waterway during what Iranian officials described as
01:04a complex intelligence and operational mission at dawn on September 8.
01:10Iranian state media identified the vehicle as an Andurl Dive LD, a large autonomous underwater
01:17vehicle designed for missions ranging from surveillance and seabed mapping to mine warfare.
01:24The footage released by Iran appears to show the vehicle intact and being lifted from the
01:29water.
01:30The markings on the hull appear to be consistent with the Dive LD, although some of the lettering
01:36is worn and independent verification of the exact circumstances of the recovery remains
01:41limited.
01:42The capture claim comes as tensions remain extremely high around the Strait of Hormuz, one
01:48of the world's most important energy choke points.
01:51But Washington is pushing back against the Iranian portrayal of the incident.
01:56A Pentagon and CENTCOM spokesperson said an underwater drone had malfunctioned more than a day earlier
02:03while surveying regional waters in support of ongoing operations.
02:07U.S. officials described the vehicle as an older model and said it did not collect sensitive
02:13information and was not carrying classified sonar or radar equipment.
02:19Andurl has also confirmed the loss of a Dive LD in the region.
02:23The company describes the system as an attritable autonomous platform, meaning it is specifically
02:29designed to operate in dangerous environments where the loss of the vehicle is considered
02:34an acceptable operational risk.
02:37So what exactly is the Dive LD?
02:40The autonomous underwater vehicle is roughly 5.8 meters long and around 1.2 meters in diameter.
02:48It can reportedly operate autonomously for up to around 10 days and has a maximum depth capability
02:54of approximately 6,000 meters, depending on configuration.
02:59Its modular design allows different payloads to be installed for missions including intelligence,
03:04surveillance, and recon, seabed surveys, mine countermeasures, hydrographic operations, and
03:12underwater infrastructure inspection.
03:14The system was developed by Dive Technologies, which Andurl acquired in 2022.
03:20The U.S. Navy received its first Dive LD systems in 2025.
03:26And that makes the Aramian footage significant, even if the United States insists this particular
03:32vehicle did not contain sensitive technology.
03:35An intact underwater drone can potentially provide an adversary with an opportunity to examine
03:41its physical design, propulsion system, sensors, communications architecture, and other components.
03:48Iran has previously attempted to seize American unmanned systems operating in the region, including
03:55U.S. unmanned surface vessels.
03:57However, one major question remains unanswered.
04:00Was the Dive LD actually captured by Iranian forces, as Tehran claims, or was it simply recovered
04:08after suffering a malfunction?
04:10At this stage, the exact circumstances remain disputed.
04:14What is clear is that Iran now possesses, or at least claims to possess, an American autonomous
04:20underwater vehicle, and it has released images and video to prove it.
04:25With the Strait of Hormuz already at the center of escalating military tensions, the recovery
04:31of an American UUV could add another dangerous layer to the confrontation beneath the surface.
04:38And further Iranian footage or technical details could reveal just how much information this
04:44particular vehicle may have carried.
04:46This is a developing story, and the details surrounding the Dive LD's mission, payload, and recovery
04:53are likely to become clearer as Washington and Tehran provide more information.
04:59To be continued...
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