Page 9 - ADT NOV - DEC 2024 Digital Magazine | GBP

HOT PROPERTY

Demand for Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) soars as Ukraine

uses naval drones with great success against Russian warships

By ARUN SIVASANKARAN
I n early December this year. vessels (USVs) striking and sinking role in Ukraine thwarting the

the Security Service of Ukraine
designs of the Russian Black Sea
the Russian Tarantul-III class mis-
(SSU) announced that Sea
Baby drone boats, armed with sile corvette Ivanovets on the Black Fleet during the ongoing conflict. In
April 2023, Ukrainian forces used
Sea near Lake Donuzlav in western
remote-controlled machine guns, Crimea. a custom-designed USV to strike
had confronted Russian Flanker- and destroy the Russian Black
series fighters, Mi-8/Mi-17 Hip Sea Fleet’s flagship, the Moskva.
helicopters, and Raptor patrol boats Mean Machines In August last year, Ukraine used
during an attack on targets on the The corvette was not the first a swarm of smaller, unconven-
Crimean Peninsula around the Russian military asset to be dec- tional USVs to attack and severely
Kerch Bridge. imated by Maritime Autonomous damage the Kerch Strait Bridge.
Guard Unmanned Robotic Three months later, Ukrainian
The attack is just the latest exam- Apparatus (Magura V5) USV. forces used another USV to hit the
ple of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine Developed by the Ukrainian state Russian Novorossiysk Naval Base,
conflict inspiring innovation and enterprise “SpetsTechnoExport,” the causing severe damage to many
new ideas on the battlefield. It also 5.5 meter (18 feet)-long Magura V5 Russian warships as well as the
underscores the critical importance has a range of 450 nautical miles, facility.
of USVs in naval tactics and its a cruising speed of 22 knots, and
growing role in modern warfare. a maximum speed of 42 knots. In Stung by the string of losses it
November 2023, the USV’s pay- had suffered, Russia hit back, with
Ukraine has been particularly imag- load capacity of 320 kilograms (705 video footage appearing in May this
inative in its use of naval drones to pounds) had been used to destroy year of it using a First Person-View
keep Russian aggression at bay. two Russian landing craft docked (FPV) drone to destroy a Magura
In January this year, the Ukrainian at a Russian Navy base in western USV. Not to be outgunned, Ukraine
Defense Intelligence Directorate Crimea. have upgraded their naval drones
(GUR) released a video showing and sprung a surprise on its adver-
several of its uncrewed surface Naval drones have played a key sary by attacking a Russian gas
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2024 | 9