Iran says it captured US underwater drone; Pentagon cites glitch

Anduril confirmed the loss of one of its vessels, but downplayed the significance of the incident.

"Dive-LD is an attritable autonomous system, meaning it is designed from the outset to operate in dangerous environments where loss of the vehicle is an expected possibility," a company spokesperson said.

The US military is investing heavily in unmanned naval systems, including underwater and surface vessels, as it seeks cheaper ways to monitor vast areas of ocean, gather intelligence and track adversary ships and submarines without putting sailors at risk.

According to Anduril's website, Dive-LD can operate for up to 10 days without returning to base and is designed to dive to depths of as much as 6,000 metres (19,700 feet). Dive-LD units cost about $2.5 million each, US military news site DefenseScoop reported in 2024.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali, Joe Brock and David Jeans; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)