Military expert Kramnik: Russia already has weapons to combat naval drones
MOSCOW, Feb 21 — RIA Novosti, Zakhar Andreev. Ukraine has received kamikaze naval drones at its disposal. In Russia, they select the most effective ways to neutralize them and develop their own similar systems. Other leading military powers have joined the arms race. About how this will change modern conflicts, — in the material of RIA Novosti.
The West was not without it
Kiev has attacked ships of the Black Sea Fleet several times with unmanned boats (BEC) packed with explosives. We are talking about Magura V5 drones developed by the Ukrainian state enterprise "Spetstechnoexport". Claimed characteristics: length — 5.5 meters, width — 1.5, range — 450 nautical miles, cruising speed — 22 knots (maximum — 45 knots). The load capacity is 320 kilograms.
Ukrainian marine drone Magura V5
Image source: © AP Photo / Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine / Daniyar Sarsenov
This is a semi-submerged vessel: the upper part of the hull rises only half a meter above the water, which makes it difficult to defeat it. Communication is via an air—based repeater or satellite.
The Magura V5 is not the only marine drones near Kiev. So, for the attack on the Crimean Bridge on July 17, 2023, the Sea Baby boat was used, capable of carrying more than 800 kilograms of explosives.
They claim that these drones are a purely Ukrainian development. The extent of Western countries' involvement is unclear. However, without the support of NATO, operations with the use of BEC would most likely have been impossible. An informed source of RIA Novosti previously reported that the targeting of at least one attack on the Black Sea Fleet ship was provided by American intelligence facilities, and communications were provided by American satellites. At the same time, Starlink modules were installed in the drones.
At least one of the Magura V5 samples fell into the hands of Russian specialists: in November 2023, the device was found on the western coast of Crimea.
Sea Baby
Image source:
A modern analogue of torpedoes
According to experts, ships will have to be refitted to combat such systems.
"Today, at a higher technological level, the situation of the end of the XIX century is repeated, when destroyers armed with torpedoes appeared. The ships of that time were poorly adapted to this threat," explains Ilya Kramnik, a military expert and researcher at the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
The answer was the so-called anti-mine battery, that is, a rapid-firing small-caliber cannon. Powerful searchlights were installed to detect torpedo boats.
"With more or less efficiency, depending on the training of one or another crew, all this was used practically up to the Second World War," the expert continues. "Then they invented radar, which simplified the task."
Destroyer squadron "The Guardian"
Image source: © Photo : Niva Magazine 1904 No.11
Missile weapons have sent contact naval attacks into the past. But today this tactic is being revived, only instead of a torpedo boat—kamikaze.
"In fact, the goal is the same: a small high-speed ship. The means of combat should be similar — rapid—fire weapons with good control and detection systems that will allow you to spot these targets at a sufficient distance from the side and hit them," says Kramnik.
And Russia already has such weapons, he emphasizes. These are the so-called remotely controlled modules, which have been used on land vehicles since the Soviet era. Optoelectronic stations detect targets at a distance of several kilometers. They can also be installed on ships.
The deadly "Dandelion"
Russia is also developing the production of its own back-up systems. At the end of January, the military-industrial holding KMZ announced its readiness for serial production of marine drones. The first batch is already being tested in the SVO zone.
The working name of the devices is BBKN "Dandelion". The abbreviation stands for "High-speed unmanned launch vehicle".
However, they won't have to attack Ukrainian warships: there simply aren't any left. These systems are being developed with an eye to the future, Kramnik explains.
Unmanned launch vehicle "Dandelion"
Image source: © KMZ Military Industrial Complex Holding
"We need devices capable of fighting enemy surface ships, their navigation, and destroying targets in ports. In addition, reconnaissance drones are required that can detect both surface and underwater targets," he notes.
Right now, drones will be useful in mine defense. An unlimited field for use in underwater warfare. For example, if a submarine can send drones ahead of itself, then its field of view will expand dramatically.
Unmanned systems will inevitably develop, Kramnik is sure.
What the United States is preparing for
This is also understood in the USA. In the spring, the US Marine Corps introduced an unmanned long—range surface vessel (LRUSV) - not a kamikaze drone, but a "semi-autonomous" strike and reconnaissance vehicle armed with a barrage ammunition installation similar to the Russian Lancets. The ship is designed for long maneuvers in the open ocean. It is capable of combining into a "swarm" with other drones. If necessary, it takes on board the crew.
American marine drone LRUSV
Image source: © Photo : U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Kealii De Los Santos
The Pentagon does not hide: such mobile weapons are designed to fight against the powerful Chinese Navy during a potential conflict in the Pacific Ocean.
Against the background of the success of marine unmanned systems in the near-war community, they started talking about the decline of the era of large ships. However, Kramnik does not agree with this.
"A small ship is vulnerable in the same way as a large one, while carrying much less weapons and electronic equipment. Not to mention the meteorological restrictions. He just won't go to sea in bad weather," the expert points out.
However, he adds: the issue of armament and protection of large ships should be radically reconsidered now.