DID Press: Iran’s capture of a U.S. military underwater drone could give Tehran an opportunity to study and potentially reverse-engineer the technology, potentially dealing a setback to the Pentagon and its manufacturer, Anduril, Reuters reported.
Experts say the captured Dive-LD is an autonomous underwater vehicle designed for long-range surveillance and other undersea missions. The system is part of a newer generation of military drones designed to operate for days with limited human intervention.
The U.S. military and Anduril have downplayed the significance of the drone falling into Iranian hands. However, analysts say Iran could use the technology as an intelligence and propaganda opportunity.
Reuters reported that Washington has previously treated the loss of advanced drones to Iran as a serious matter. In 2011, Iran captured a U.S. RQ-170 Sentinel reconnaissance drone and later said it had reverse-engineered the aircraft.
According to analysts, Tehran is unlikely to gain a decisive military advantage from the captured underwater drone. However, the incident could provide Iran with a propaganda victory while undermining Washington’s efforts to project the technological superiority of its military systems.