The conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea has escalated, with Ukrainian drone boats sinking or damaging Russian warships. In response, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has utilized fighter-bombers and helicopters to patrol and defend against the drone boats. However, the Ukrainian drones are now equipped with surface-to-air missiles, potentially allowing them to fire back at Russian aircraft.
Videos from the Black Sea show a Ukrainian drone boat being targeted by a Russian Kamov Ka-29 helicopter, which fired upon the unmanned surface vehicle. This engagement may be related to a recent Ukrainian drone boat raid on the Black Sea Fleet in Crimea, where the boats reportedly sank a Russian patrol craft. Some Ukrainian drones are now carrying air-defense missiles, such as the 10-foot R-73 infrared-guided missile.
The addition of air-defense missiles to Ukrainian drone boats adds another layer of complexity to their capabilities. The drones were previously used as one-way attack craft, ramming into Russian warships. Some versions of the drones can fire unguided rockets, while others may have radio jammers. There is speculation that the USVs may have already targeted and downed Russian helicopters over the Black Sea.
There are reports of Russian helicopters crashing over the Black Sea amidst the drone boat engagements. Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk claimed that one helicopter was searching for something and found it before crashing. This raises questions about whether the Russian helicopters were targeted by Ukrainian USVs armed with surface-to-air missiles. The outcome of these engagements and the potential use of air-defense missiles by Ukrainian drone boats remains to be seen.
The use of drones equipped with air-defense missiles represents a new development in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the Black Sea. The ability of these drones to engage with Russian aircraft adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing maritime conflict. The recent engagements between Ukrainian drone boats and Russian warships highlight the evolving nature of modern warfare and the importance of technological advancements in unmanned systems.