Seven months ago, enterprising Ukrainian engineers in the mix made a mixture of R-73 air sensors and infrared-guided missiles borrowed from the Ukrainian Air Force and set up the resulting formula on some of the Directorate’s Magura V5 attack ships. of Ukrainian intelligence.
Sometime in recent days, one of the 18-foot Magura V5s got into a fight with a gun-armed Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter—and shot down the Mi-8. It was the first aerial kill by an unmanned surface vehicle, and a harbinger of a new era in naval warfare. “Historic strike,” the intelligence directorate crowed as it released footage of the engagement.
Drone ships for Ukrainian use: Magura V5 and Sea’s toddlers have wreaked havoc on Russia’s Black Sea fleet this year. In separate raids on the Crimean anchorages in February, May and June, explosives-laden USVs sank a corvette, a touchdown boat, a patrol boat and a tugboat.
After those shipwrecks, the Black Sea fleet is no more than two-thirds of its pre-war strength.
Determined to the remainder of the fleet, the Russian military attacks the defenses around the naval bases in Crimea and in southern Russia. The approaches to those bases are now patrolled through helicopters and rapt patrols, among other active people.
To give satellite-guided baby seafarers and Magura V5 a fighting chance against those defenses, the Ukrainians began upgrading their USV in the spring. Some were operated remotely for heavy device weapons. Others won treatment with R-73.
The latter was displayed for the first time in May, and caused a surprised reaction to the confusing Russian crew. “The Ukrainians were able to attach the rocket [R-73] with the USV telecontrol systems,” said Fighterbomber Telegram channel.
Bathrough’s armed sailors operated through Ukraine’s federal security service in action for the first time in early December, and even took a few kicks on the MI-8 that higher to accomplish them, in all likelihood damaging at least one of the helicopters. There were dead and wounded and wounded crew members aboard the helicopter, the security service said.
But the helicopter itself survived the engagement. It would take some another 3 weeks before a Magura V got rid of its first target in the air. “This is an unprecedented occasion with vital implications for Russia’s operations in the Black Sea,” said Finnish analyst Joni Askola.
It’s also possible the Ukrainians could add the same sensors and missiles to ground robots. “If Ukraine can replicate this achievement at a low cost using unmanned ground vehicles,” Askola pointed out, “it could enhance Ukraine’s short-range air defense capabilities.”
Sources:
1. Main Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate
2. Fighterbomber
3. Security Service of Ukraine
4. Joni Askola
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