Ukrainian intelligence reveals footage of uncrewed surface vessels deployed in Black Sea operations
Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) is deploying at least two types of uncrewed surface vessels for strike missions in the Black Sea. Footage of these vessels was featured in the documentary Sea Battle. The Age of Drones by Artem Shevchenko.
Source: Ukrainian military media outlet Militarnyi
Details: DIU is building a fleet of naval drones, with a key role assigned to uncrewed surface vessels adapted for launching kamikaze drones. These systems are capable of striking both land-based targets and highly manoeuvrable surface vessels.
The documentary shows two naval drones that differ significantly from the well-known Magura V5. One of them uses a conventional boat engine with propellers instead of water jets and can carry four containers with FPV drones ready for launch.
"Our naval platform carries between 500 and 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 special operations intelligence officer involved in using these types of drones.
Another uncrewed surface vessel shown in lower-quality footage has a different hull shape and is equipped with a launcher for four fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.
DIU's uncrewed surface vessel
Screenshot from the documentary Sea Battle. The Age of Drones
This second platform is believed to have been repeatedly used by DIU's Prymary unit for delivering strike systems to the shores of temporarily occupied Crimea. In April, it reportedly hit several Russian patrol boats and a Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system in the waters off the peninsula.
Both systems appear to be equipped with Starlink satellite communication antennas, which significantly extend their operational range.
DIU's uncrewed surface vessel
Screenshot from the documentary Sea Battle. The Age of Drones
For the first time, the control station for the uncrewed surface vessel was also shown, featuring an operator's seat with controls: an aircraft-style steering yoke and a throttle lever. Several buttons are visible on the yoke, one of which is likely responsible for bow pitch control of the uncrewed vessel.
Footage from the drone's day and night cameras is transmitted to the operator's augmented reality goggles and mirrored on a screen behind. The goggles provide a panoramic image stitched from several cameras.
The control station for the uncrewed surface vessel
Screenshot from the documentary Sea Battle. The Age of Drones
Additional feeds from a forward-facing thermal imaging camera and rear cameras are displayed nearby.
Naval drone control interface in augmented reality glasses
Screenshot from the documentary Sea Battle. The Age of Drones
Intelligence officers noted that these vessels enable targeted strikes against ground targets and provide air cover during large-scale naval operations.
Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Russia says it tests new laser defences against drones
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Friday it had conducted large-scale tests of new laser-based systems to defend against drones. A government statement described the new technology as "promising" and said it had been tested against various types of drone in different weather conditions. It said the anti-drone lasers would become part of a "universal air defence system" that President Vladimir Putin said this week Russia needed to build. "The test results will be used to refine existing models and create systems capable of providing reliable protection against modern air attack weapons. Conducting tests allows us to move on to serial production and upscaling," the statement said. An accompanying video showed charred debris from a destroyed drone. Both sides have deployed drones on a huge scale in the Russia-Ukraine war, using them to spot and hit targets not only on the battlefield but way beyond the front lines. Ukrainian drones have frequently struck sites deep inside Russia such as oil depots, refineries and airfields, highlighting the need for Moscow to boost its defences. Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones smuggled close to air bases in trucks inflicted serious damage to Russia's long-range bomber fleet.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Russia says it tests new laser defences against drones
MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Friday it had conducted large-scale tests of new laser-based systems to defend against drones. A government statement described the new technology as "promising" and said it had been tested against various types of drone in different weather conditions. It said the anti-drone lasers would become part of a "universal air defence system" that President Vladimir Putin said this week Russia needed to build. "The test results will be used to refine existing models and create systems capable of providing reliable protection against modern air attack weapons. Conducting tests allows us to move on to serial production and upscaling," the statement said. An accompanying video showed charred debris from a destroyed drone. Both sides have deployed drones on a huge scale in the Russia-Ukraine war, using them to spot and hit targets not only on the battlefield but way beyond the front lines. Ukrainian drones have frequently struck sites deep inside Russia such as oil depots, refineries and airfields, highlighting the need for Moscow to boost its defences. Earlier this month, Ukrainian drones smuggled close to air bases in trucks inflicted serious damage to Russia's long-range bomber fleet.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Zelenskyy signs laws exempting fibre optics for drones from duties and VAT
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed two laws introducing benefits for manufacturers of drones operated via fibre-optic cable. Source: Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) Details: In particular, it provides an exemption from customs duties for fibre optics for drones, which will provide favourable conditions for the production of unmanned systems. Law No 4473-IX amends the Customs Code and exempts goods imported into Ukraine for security and defence purposes from import duty. Meanwhile, Law No 4474-IX amends the Tax Code and exempts the importation of such goods into Ukraine from value-added tax. Fibre-optic drones are resistant to electronic intelligence and are critical to the Ukrainian defence forces. However, optical components are mostly imported into Ukraine. Read also: A weapon entirely immune to jamming: How Ukraine is rolling out production of fibre-optic drones Background: In early June, the Verkhovna Rada adopted two laws introducing tax and customs benefits for manufacturers of fibre-optic drones. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
