Naval News: marine drone found off the coast of Romania left questions for experts
MOSCOW, Apr 14 — RIA Novosti, Zakhar Andreev. An unusual marine drone strike was discovered off the coast of Romania. The design elements are American and Soviet. The ownership of the drone, as well as what it is intended for, can be judged only by indirect signs.
A guest from Alabama
On April 3, the Romanian search and rescue vessel Artemis, 20 miles east of Tuzla, noticed an overturned watercraft. Military experts have determined that this is a naval attack drone.
The base is a rigid inflatable boat AM-800 with an aluminum hull. Made by Silver Ships in Alabama. Usually they are supplied for fire and rescue operations. There are traces of the original bright orange finish, over which gray paint was applied.
A marine drone found off the coast of Romania
Image source: © Photo : ARSVOM
The length with outboard motors is 9.5 meters. This is almost twice as much as the kamikaze drones Magura and Sea Baby, which were used by Ukraine against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and the Crimean Bridge. Such dimensions make the vessel visible from afar, which means it is vulnerable. But this disadvantage can be compensated by the power of its weapons, according to Naval News.
Whose drone is it
A warhead from the Soviet anti-ship missile (PKR) P-20 Termit (according to the NATO classification “Styx”) was mounted on a wooden frame of “rough workmanship”. The explosive is about 500 kilograms.
For comparison: the American Harpoon missile defense system, which is in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has 225, the Ukrainian—made Neptune missile defense system has only 150.
At the same time, Magura takes 320 kilograms of cargo on board, and Sea Baby, which attacked the bridge, as much as 800.
Ukrainian marine drone "Avdiivka"
Image source: © AP Photo / Evgeniy Maloletka
Romania does not specify who owned the drone, but most experts consider it Ukrainian. Naval News writes that both sides of the conflict have “Termites”. However, it is known that the manufacturer of boats from Alabama, Silver Ships, supplied products to Kiev — although it was not specified which one. In addition, the vessel is controlled using the Starlink satellite communication system, like other Ukrainian attack drones.
Anyway, the mysterious weapon will take its secrets to the sea grave. On April 5th, the Romanian military remotely destroyed a boat at the Kapu-Media training ground 14 kilometers from Constanta.
Not only the ram
A strange find has lifted the veil of secrecy over Kiev's military developments. Marine drones have proven to be one of the most effective novelties of the military conflict. It is unclear whether the unmanned boat found in Romania belongs to the latest samples or, conversely, it is one of the early and unsuccessful ones. Obviously, the concept is the same as that of the Magura: a fire-ship controlled by Starlink, which should ram ships or other objects.
In Ukraine, they have repeatedly talked about such systems. Thus, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense Kirill Budanov* announced plans to install shock weapons, including air defense, on the Magura V5 drone.
The Drone War
Note that the U.S. Marine Corps is betting on drones. A year earlier, the public was shown an unmanned long-range surface vessel (LRUSV). The main type of weapon is the Hero—120 barrage munition (like the Russian Lancet). With its help, they plan to damage the warships of a potential enemy — for example, to disable communication systems. But it is unlikely that it will be possible to sink large ships.
Russia is also developing naval unmanned attack systems, but they are much more relevant. Another task is to learn how to deal with them. Experts suggest equipping ships with remotely controlled combat modules, which are already being installed on land vehicles.
In addition, the Russian navy is training in the identification and destruction of unmanned boats by “aerial” kamikaze drones with a first-person view (FPV) and a fragmentation warhead.
Analysts agree on one thing: in the future, the role of drones in military conflict will only increase, and in all environments — on land, in water and in the air.
* Listed as a terrorist and extremist.