Kyiv FPV Drones Launched From Unmanned Boat Destroy 3 Russian Air Defenses

Not only were the Russian air defense systems, including radars destroyed by FPV drones, but the drones were launched from naval drones acting as 'aircraft carriers' which increased their ability to avoid detection and get closer to the target. JL

Svetlana Shcherbak reports in Defense Express:

On January 6, 2025, Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones destroyed two russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems and one Osa short-range air defense system in the occupied Kherson region. This (was noteworthy) not only for the number of Russian air defense assets destroyed in a single strike but also for the depth of penetration required to execute it. This strike was executed using naval surface drones, which acted as "carriers" in the operation. Launching FPV drones from a surface drone minimizes the chance of encountering physical obstacles. This improves signal transmission range and increases the likelihood of successfully striking enemy targets in coastal areas.

Ukrainian forces continue testing naval drones against the enemy, with the first visible results already emerging

On January 6, 2025, it was reported that operators of Ukrainian FPV kamikaze drones destroyed two russian Pantsir-S1 air defense systems and one Osa short-range air defense system in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region. This attracted attention not only for the number of enemy air defense assets destroyed in a single strike but also for the depth of penetration required to execute it.

It has now been revealed that this strike was executed using naval surface drones, which acted as "carriers" in the operation, as reported by The War Zone.

“Only a week after Ukrainian sea drones made history by successfully taking down russian helicopters, another historical first as our homegrown naval drones are now launching their own FPV drones, destroying russia’s air defense units,” Ukraine’s Center for Strategic Communication and Information Security (CSCIS) stated on social media.

Back in December, initial evidence emerged that Ukraine was using this capability, with aerial drones being launched from unmanned surface vessels (USVs) as part of its campaign against russian offshore platforms.

 

The types of FPV drones used in this strike, as well as the USVs from which they were launched, remain undisclosed. However, an infographic released by CSCIS shows a drone boat resembling the widely used Magura V5, alongside three quadcopter FPV drones.

 

After being brought closer to their targets by the USVs, the FPV drones successfully struck two russian Pantsir-S1 systems and one Osa system in russian-occupied areas of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region.

From a technical perspective, using this type of unmanned weaponry presents several considerations. FPV drones, especially for strikes over several dozen kilometers, require relays for stable control. This raises the question of whether a naval "mothership" drone could serve as such a relay.

Probable configuration of naval FPV drone: Assessment by H I Sutton

On the other hand, launching FPV drones from a surface drone minimizes the chance of encountering physical obstacles. This improves signal transmission range and increases the likelihood of successfully striking enemy targets in coastal areas.

The equipping of Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels with FPV drones represents a logical evolution in their development. Previously, these vessels were equipped with RPV-16 Shmel thermobaric rocket launchers and even 122-mm rocket launch systems for self-defense and targeting enemy assets.