Just what Chester and Delaware County wanted for Christmas—an unmanned submarine.

The Videoray Defender submarine, purchased with a nearly $300,000 grant to the Chester City Police Department, will be used for rescue and recovery missions, writes Greg Payne for Fox 29 Philadelphia.

The unmanned underwater drone can be operated from a distance using sonar, a camera, controlled arms, and lights to scan the water for drowning victims or to search for items in an investigation.

The drone supplements the work of divers, offering a quicker response, staying underwater for hours, and keeping divers away from dangerous situations. 

“Before you send down a diver, you can actually locate them with this and then send the diver down. That limits their bottom time and increases team safety,” said David Phillips, an independent consultant for Videoray LLC.

The technology also means faster response times on recoveries when divers are delayed by conditions or currents,

Phillips is teaching the Chester Police and Fire Dive Rescue and Recovery Team how to use the drone so they’ll be ready when a real-life scenario occurs.

On Tuesday, the Defender was at Springton Reservoir, looking for milk crates.  

Find out more about Chester and Delaware County’s new Videoray Defender submarine at Fox 29 Philadelphia.