Ukraine's intel showcases sea drone carriers: New weapon hits Crimea and Russian boats
Archive photo: Magura v5 sea drones (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The Defense Intelligence uses at least two different types of sea drones for conducting strike operations in the Black Sea, the new drones were showcased in the Sea Battle. The Drone Era documentary.
The Defense Intelligence is actively forming a fleet of sea drones, with an important component being unmanned platforms capable of launching strike kamikaze drones. These platforms are designed to target both ground and maneuverable surface targets.
The film footage shows two new types of sea drones that are structurally different from the well-known strike drones, Magura v5. One of them is equipped with a classic boat engine with propellers instead of a water jet drive and is outfitted with four containers for launching FPV drones.
"Our sea platform carries between 500 to 3,000 kilograms of various types of weapons – airborne, surface, and underwater. The system uses cutting-edge technologies integrated with NATO-standard artificial intelligence," said a member of the special forces reconnaissance group.
New drone model
Another, currently unnamed, model of a sea drone carrier appeared only in low-quality footage, where a radically different hull shape and the presence of a launch system for four aircraft-type strike drones can be seen.
This device has likely been repeatedly used by the Prymary unit of the Defense Intelligence (GUR) to deliver strike means to the shores of Crimea. In April, it struck several Russian combat boats and the Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile system in the waters of the occupied peninsula.
Both platforms are equipped with Starlink satellite communication antennas, which significantly extend the operational range of the sea drones due to a stable internet connection.
How sea drones are controlled
In addition to the drones, the scouts for the first time demonstrated the control station for the sea platform. It is equipped with an operator's seat, as well as control mechanisms, including a speed regulation lever and a steering wheel similar to an aviation one.
Several buttons are located on the steering wheel, one of which is likely responsible for controlling the nose tilt of the unmanned vessel.
Images from the day and night cameras are displayed in the operator's augmented reality glasses and are also duplicated on a monitor behind, likely for tracking the situation by other officers at the command post.
The use of augmented reality glasses instead of traditional monitors allowed the operator to receive a unified image from several cameras, creating a comprehensive panorama with a wide field of view.
In addition, the field of view also includes the image from a thermal imager located at the front of the drone, as well as cameras mounted at the rear.
As noted by the scouts, the appearance of drone carriers has opened up new opportunities not only for precise strikes on ground targets but also for providing air cover during large-scale naval operations. This is particularly important given the active operations of the GUR special forces, which conduct raids and land sabotage groups behind enemy lines in the Black Sea area.
Downing of two Russian Su-30 aircraft in the Black Sea
Recently, Ukrainian forces downed two Russian Su-30 aircraft in the Black Sea. As stated by the head of the GUR, Kyrylo Budanov, to down the two Su-30s, the GUR used three Magura V7 unmanned boats.
On May 2, the GUR downed a Russian Su-30 near Novorossiysk. Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that two Russian aircraft were downed.
