U.S. says seized Iranian drone in Hormuz was defective and non-critical
The U.S. military described an unmanned submersible captured by Iran's Revolutionary Guard as an older, defective model that did not contain sensitive equipment.
The U.S. Navy said an unmanned submersible that Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed to have captured in the Strait of Hormuz was a defective, older-model drone that did not carry classified sonar or radar equipment.
Captain Tim Hawkins, speaking for U.S. Central Command, said the underwater drone malfunctioned more than a day earlier while conducting a survey of regional waters in support of ongoing operations. He added that U.S. activities in the area continue.
Iranian state media had described the vessel as a "Dive-LD" autonomous undersea vehicle developed by U.S. defense contractor Anduril, valued at about $2.5 million each.
The incident follows recent exchanges of fire between U.S. and Iranian forces in the Persian Gulf, including U.S. strikes on three Iranian oil tankers after the IRGC fired ballistic missiles at two Navy warships.
The episode highlights the growing reliance on autonomous systems by the U.S. military in the region.