Ukraine has used naval drones with anti-aircraft missiles. This became known after the occupiers showed footage of the interception of a Ukrainian naval drone with R-73 anti-aircraft missiles that attacked Russian aircraft in the Black Sea.
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The video was published by Russian media.
In the video, a Ukrainian naval drone performs maneuvers to evade fire from a Russian Ka-29 helicopter.
Important in this event is the appearance on board the drone of a superstructure, its contours reminiscent of the Soviet air-to-air missile R-73.
The R-73 is a short-range airborne missile, but it can also be launched from ground-based installations. It does not require radar or other systems to guide it; it is equipped with its own thermal homing head.
“Militarny” writes that this missile on board the drone can be distinguished from a similar, but earlier R-60 by the specific shape of the tail.
The launcher has guides for two missiles. It is highly likely to be stabilized to compensate for the sea duck and is rotatable. Probably, the seeker of the missile itself is used to lock on the target.
The Russians released a photo of the drone taken from a helicopter, showing one missile missing. According to them, the drone managed to fire it at the Russian Mi-8 helicopter, but missed.
The footage shows that the missile carrier was an upgraded Magura V5 drone. They were used in the attack on Russian ships in the Black Sea on May 6.
The Group 13 special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate used them to destroy a Russian speedboat in Uzkaya Bay near the Black Sea in the western Crimean Peninsula.
It should be noted that the Russian military managed to critically defeat the drone in the video, resulting in a powerful explosion. Taking this into account, we can conclude that “anti-aircraft naval drones” continue to carry a warhead and can hit enemy ships.
“Military” reminds that sea drones of the SeaBaby model, used by the SBU special forces, are also equipped with launchers for RPV-16 flamethrowers.
Source: Racurs
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