Hey there! So, Russia has come up with an explosive drone for its Black Sea Fleet to tackle Ukraine‘s successful attacks using unmanned waterborne vehicles.
Reportedly, this new Kamikaze Uncrewed Surface Vehicle (USV) can carry 250 kilograms of explosives. The idea was pushed forward by a Russian Special Forces officer involved in the program.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has fueled the rapid development of various drones – from flying to floating ones. Both Kyiv and Moscow are amping up their drone programs.
The latest naval kamikaze drones will feature satellite navigation and an inertial system for enhanced accuracy and resistance against jamming.
Initial approval for this project came from former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The torch has now been passed to Andrey Belosov for the final green light.
Ukraine’s waterborne drones, especially their USVs, pose a significant threat to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, which includes crucial infrastructure connecting Crimea to mainland Russia.
Through the MAGURA-V5 drones of its military intelligence service, Ukraine has managed to damage and destroy several Russian naval vessels, including flagship Ivanovets, missile ship Caesar Kunikov, a landing ship, a Russian Corvette, and high-speed patrol boats.
In response, the Kremlin plans to beef up the Black Sea Fleet with additional weapons, like large-caliber machine guns, to counter Ukrainian drones.
Shoigu emphasized the importance of daily training to protect against air and unmanned boat attacks. Meanwhile, Russia is also developing thermal imaging systems to safeguard its Black Sea Fleet from enemy drones.