Watch: Ukrainian Navy Uses Drone Boats To Launch Kamikaze Drones At Russian Targets

Ukraine has successfully used uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), commonly known as drone boats, to launch kamikaze-style aerial drones at Russian targets on land.

According to Ukrainian authorities, this first-person view (FPV) drones were deployed in a strike on Russian air defense systems in the southern Kherson region for the first time.

The Ukrainian Navy released a video of the attack, showing one of the FPV drones targeting a Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense system (SHORADS).

While the damage caused by the strike is unclear, Ukrainian officials described this as a historic breakthrough in their Black Sea drone warfare campaign.

Another ‘no-analogue’ scrap metal.
Ukrainian drones destroyed a Pantsir-S1 air defense system in the Kherson region.

📹: UA Navy pic.twitter.com/Nr01VCzumZ

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) January 6, 2025

Russian military bloggers have also acknowledged this new tactic, confirming Ukraine’s use of USVs to launch aerial drones at shore-based targets.

Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security (CSCIS), a government-run media body, provided more details about the strikes.

They reported that drone boats carried FPV drones close to the targets, which included two Pantsir-S1 systems and one Osa air defense system. All three vehicles were located in Russian-occupied areas near the Black Sea.

The Pantsir-S1, known as the SA-22 Greyhound in the West, is a modern Russian air defense system with an estimated cost of $15 million.

The Osa, or SA-8 Gecko, is an older, Cold War-era system. Both systems are mounted on high-mobility wheeled chassis.

The drone boats used in the operation are believed to be similar to the Ukrainian-made Magura V5. These boats carried multiple quadcopter FPV drones, which were launched near the targets for precision strikes.

By launching aerial drones, these USVs can now target inland positions, such as air defense systems and other military installations.

Because, why not: Special Forces of the Russian Black Sea Fleet training to destroy kamikaze USVs from helicopter using FPV drones. pic.twitter.com/Y34I8jFtP6

— Clash Report (@clashreport) September 30, 2024

Just a week earlier, Ukraine had used Magura V5 drone boats armed with repurposed R-73 air-to-air missiles to shoot down two Russian Mi-8 helicopters near Crimea.

FPV drones have a limited range and require a continuous line-of-sight connection with their operators. However, the open terrain near the Black Sea reduces these limitations, making it more effective.

Ukraine is exploring advanced communication methods to extend its capabilities using fibre-optic cables or satellite links to maintain a stronger connection with the drones.

Military experts suggest that integrating artificial intelligence into these systems could also help improve their performance and reduce reliance on human operators.

Using FPV drones launched from reusable drone boats helps Ukraine carry out multiple attacks in a cost-effective way.

Unlike kamikaze USVs that are destroyed during their missions, these drone boats can return after launching their payload, reducing overall losses.

Reference: The War Zone

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