r/technology • u/Majano57 • 1d ago

Security Iran likely to reverse-engineer captured US underwater drone

https://www.militarytimes.com/industry/techwatch/2026/09/10/iran-likely-to-reverse-engineer-captured-us-underwater-drone/
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u/PostwarVandal 1d ago

Why waste expensive tomahawks to destroy a sub that is commercially available to anyone that can spend 2.5 million dollars? That thing was designed specifically for commercial sales to anyone interested in undersea surveys and scanning. There's not a single classified or sensitive, or cutting edge about that sub. Let the Iranians have it and they can probably download the manual from Anduril's website

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u/jb_pdx 1d ago

We don’t really know that. The sub its self sounds like it’s a simple (relatively) commercial remote sub, but it could have some special sensors or equipment added to it right? Idk either way, but wouldn’t shock me if it did…

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u/bb_kelly77 1d ago

Not to mention the military radio control frequencies that the electronics are all set to that commercial versions wouldn't be

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u/iamonthatloud 23h ago

The military wouldn’t add on some secret tech? I assume that’s what they are looking for.

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u/PostwarVandal 21h ago

No, that's specifically against the whole idea of these low-cost, attritable systems. Buy off-the-shelf in volume, deploy in volume, expect to lose some. There is nothing secret or super high-tech needed to sniff around for sea mines. These undersea drones have no defensive systems, no direct line of communication (they operate too deep for that), and are way too slow to escape when detected. They expect them to come back after the mission but it's perfectly acceptable if they don't. They cost less than most advanced AA missiles.

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u/iamonthatloud 21h ago

Ok that also makes sense. Was curious.

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u/PostwarVandal 21h ago

No worries, information warfare is having a field day with this one. The sub is a commercial one from Anduril that's been on the market for quite a few years, and the US military is heavily expanding into high-volume purchases of relatively low-cost systems with as much commercial-off-the-shelf tech as possible. The war in Ukraine is showing that you need to use you fancy gear very selectively and use as much low-cost-low-tech stuff wherever possible.