By Olawale Abaire, Warrior Editorial Fellow
Ukraine’s autonomous naval vessels (USVs) have been a game-changer in the Black Sea’s naval warfare. However, their Achilles’ heel has been their susceptibility to aerial attacks. Russian defenses have capitalized on this weakness, deploying helicopters and fighter jets to neutralize them. However, the tables may be turning by the introduction of a USV variant armed with two retrofitted air-to-air missiles, according to a report by navalnews.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has underscored the pivotal role of drones in modern warfare. In the maritime domain, Ukraine’s naval drones have set a global benchmark in combat usage. Initially seen as a disruptive force, these explosive-packed vessels have since reshaped conventional wisdom. Ukraine has now upped the ante by fielding a novel class of maritime drone equipped with air defense missiles.
Previously, Ukraine’s USVs were sitting ducks for any aircraft, especially machinegun-armed helicopters. The recent addition of powerful air-defense missiles to some USVs, however, might give Russian pilots pause before they venture too close.
The Ukraine’s uncrewed surface vessels have been controlling naval war in the Black Sea. The new USV is distinct from previously observed types, featuring a new wider hull. This allows two missiles to be carried side-by-side. It is armed with two R-73 air-air missiles, which is known by the NATO reporting name AA-11 Archer, a short-range air-air missile. It was highly agile and had an impressive seeker with 40 degrees off-boresight capability. This meant that it could be launched against a target which was not directly in front of the plane. It was arguably the top dogfighting missile of its time, carried by fighter aircraft like the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker. Its agility and impressive seeker with 40 degrees off-boresight capability meant it could be launched at a target not directly ahead of the aircraft. The seeker was linked to a helmet-mounted sight for air targeting.
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Until now, Ukraine’s naval drones (USVs) have been most vulnerable to aircraft. They were essentially defenseless against a helicopter armed with a machine gun. In the 1980s, this was more advanced than its NATO counterparts. While today’s Sidewinder, ASRAAM, and IRIS-T versions may arguably outperform it, the R-73 remains a formidable system.
Potential Roles and Impact USVs
The addition of missiles enhances the drone’s self-defense capabilities, enabling it to better fend off Russian helicopters and fast jets. A few FrankenSAM USVs interspersed with a larger group of regular USVs could deter Russian interdiction attempts.
The system also paves the way for potential ambushes of Russian aircraft as they take off or land at Crimean air bases. The USVs could lurk off the Crimean coast and target unsuspecting aircraft. There’s some circumstantial evidence suggesting that this tactic may already have been employed.
USV manufacturers worldwide are already following in Ukraine’s footsteps. Proposals for air defense-equipped types have been floated even before the Russo-Ukraine War. But the advent of this new type and its apparent effectiveness are likely to lend more weight to those proposals.
