Ukraine Unveils Destructive Suicide Submarine to Target Russian Warships
Ukraine has introduced its first naval drone brigade and revealed a powerful uncrewed suicide submarine. President Volodymyr Zelensky marked this development by presenting new colours to the 385th Separate Brigade of Special-Purpose Marine Unmanned Systems during the Ukrainian Independence Day parade.
Marine drones have proven highly effective in Ukraine's arsenal, with Kyrylo Budanov, head of military intelligence, noting Russia's extensive efforts to counter these attacks. While Russia manages to neutralize around 60 to 70 percent of the drones, the remaining 30 percent remain a challenge.
Ukraine has progressively enhanced the sophistication, accuracy, and range of its naval drones, employing them against the Russian Black Sea Fleet in occupied Crimea and even targeting warships in Novorossiysk's distant harbor, around 200 miles away. The country's investment in marine drones has resulted in one of the world's most advanced fleets.
Ukraine has now expanded its capabilities with the introduction of the Marichka submarine drone. This 20ft-long black vessel is designed to strike the submerged portions of ships, potentially inflicting even more damage to warships. Navalnews.com highlights the challenge posed by a swarm of such underwater uncrewed vehicles, stating that they are difficult to defend against.
While Ukraine previously launched a smaller submarine drone known as the Toloka, its utilization against the Russian navy remains unclear.
In summary, Ukraine's advancement in naval drones includes the introduction of a potent suicide submarine, providing the country with a powerful tool to target Russian warships.