Ukraine's Navy is now enhancing its unmanned boats with a variety of long-range weaponry, following their successful use in attacks on Russian vessels and the Crimean Bridge. New models of Ukrainian unmanned surface vehicles are already under development. Recent discussions have centered on arming Ukrainian naval drones with P-73 anti-aircraft missiles, and reports have emerged that these unmanned boats will be equipped with salvo launch missile systems. This is not just speculation; Ukraine began testing these systems as early as winter.
Oleh Bratchuk, former spokesman for the Odesa Regional Military Administration, mentioned that the SBU’s Sea Baby unmanned boats are now being equipped with mini-MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems). These boats were spotted with several rocket launchers mounted on their hulls. While the exact results of these tests are still unknown, Bratchuk described them as "very powerful." However, these upgraded Sea Babies have yet to demonstrate their capabilities at sea, as all tests so far appear to have been conducted on land, based on available photos.
Previously, it was noted that due to the lack of a conventional naval force and the need to carry out diversionary maneuvers against Russian vessels and the Crimean Bridge, Kyiv has turned to unmanned boats. These boats have shown significant efficiency against Black Sea Fleet ships in open waters, but various barriers have often rendered these efforts ineffective.
The introduction of new MLRS seems aimed at overcoming the challenges of accessing secured sea areas. Even if penetration is not achieved, offensive strikes are still possible. The effectiveness of these new weapons will become clear over time. Recently, images surfaced online showing a Russian Ka-29 helicopter approaching a Ukrainian USV armed with an R-73 infrared-guided air-to-air missile.
Interestingly, the R-73 (AA-11 Archer), usually mounted on fighter jets, was attached to a static launcher on the USV. An empty slot was also observed. The rationale for equipping a USV with an air-to-air missile is still unclear, sparking two potential theories.
One theory suggests that Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) could be used to ambush unsuspecting aircraft at sea. Reflecting on Cold War tactics, using air-to-air missiles in this way would be groundbreaking, marking the debut of USVs in an air defense role. Another hypothesis proposes that USVs might use R-73 missiles to target small surface vessels by detecting their heat signatures. Re-calibrating infrared-guided air-to-air missiles to track surface targets is feasible. The U.S.-made AIM-9X Sidewinder, comparable to the R-73, demonstrated this capability when it successfully hit a small boat after a simple software adjustment.
Regarding the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 21, 2022, Russia claimed that its border facility was attacked by Ukrainian forces, resulting in the deaths of five Ukrainian fighters. Ukraine quickly dismissed these allegations as 'false flags.' On the same day, Russia announced it officially recognized the self-proclaimed areas of the DPR and LPR. According to Russian President Putin, this recognition covered all Ukrainian regions. Following this declaration, Putin sent a battalion of Russian military forces, including tanks, into these areas.
On February 24, 2022, global headlines were dominated by a significant event: Putin ordered a large-scale military assault on Ukraine. Led by Russia's formidable Armed Forces positioned at the Ukrainian border, this assault was not spontaneous but a premeditated action. Despite the circumstances resembling a war, the Russian government avoids using this term, preferring to call it a "special military operation."
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