Recently, the Ukrainian military released video footage showing the use of unmanned boats to shoot down Russian Mi-8 helicopters. Over the past year, Ukraine has frequently employed unmanned attacks against the Russian navy, leading to the Black Sea Fleet having to evacuate Crimea. Now Ukraine, having driven away the Russian navy, is even daring to confront the Russian air force.
Ukraine has brought a New Year’s gift to everyone. On December 31st, the Ukrainian military released a video showing unmanned boats launching R73 anti-aircraft missiles over the Black Sea, shooting down Russian helicopters, knocking down two at once. The video was recorded at night over the Black Sea, with the perspective coming from an unmanned boat, braving the waves in the Black Sea, with bullets hitting the sea surface and creating splashes.
The footage then shows the silhouette of a helicopter appearing, with the helicopter’s machine gun firing at the unmanned boat, but causing no fatal damage. The following scene shows the unmanned boat locking onto the helicopter, launching a missile that pierces the night sky, clearly hitting the helicopter, which eventually crashes into the sea, creating a huge splash. Subsequently, the unmanned boat spots a second helicopter in the air and launches another missile.
The incident took place on the western side of the Crimean Peninsula. According to Ukrainian intelligence, a total of two Russian helicopters were shot down.
Ukraine has produced a large number of MAGURA unmanned boats, which Ukrainians have nicknamed “Sea Pearl.” These unmanned boats weigh less than a ton, are 5.5 meters long, and can carry up to 200 kilograms of explosives. They possess remarkable speed and endurance, reaching speeds of up to 78 kilometers per hour and a range of 800 kilometers.
This means that Ukraine’s unmanned boats, starting from Odessa, can cover most areas of the Black Sea. For example, the distance from Odessa to the port of Sevastopol is only 300 kilometers, and even bypassing the entire Crimean Peninsula to the Kerch Strait is only 600 kilometers.
After their debut in 2023, the Ukrainian Navy established the world’s first unmanned fast boat squadron in August 2023 and incorporated it into the Third Fleet. However, the operators of these unmanned boats are still Ukrainian special forces operatives.
In October 2023, the “Sea Pearl” unmanned boat went into action for the first time, sinking two landing ships in a western Crimean port.
In February 2024, the “Sea Pearl” unmanned boat launched an attack near Lake Donuzlav in Crimea on the Russian “Ivanovets” escort ship. Ukraine released a two-minute video showing multiple unmanned boats attacking the escort ship from various angles. Two unmanned boats punched a large hole in the middle of the ship’s hull, and another boat then targeted the hole, exploding inside the ship. Subsequent footage showed thick smoke rising from the sea as the “Ivanovets” escort ship eventually sank. This escort ship was a Russian “Tarantul” class missile corvette with a displacement of only 500 tons.
Despite its small size, the sinking of this warship had a significant impact on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Throughout 2024, Ukraine frequently used “Sea Pearl” unmanned boats to attack the Black Sea Fleet near Crimea. In addition, Ukraine used “Storm” missiles and army tactical missiles to bombard the Black Sea Fleet’s shipyards and naval bases, forcing the Russian Black Sea Fleet to abandon its Crimean base and retreat to Novorossiysk on Russian territory.
Six months ago, Ukraine had modified this unmanned boat. The new “Sea Pearl” unmanned boat was equipped with two R73 anti-aircraft missiles. At the front of the boat, there are two high-definition cameras that can rotate 360 degrees and have thermal imaging capabilities, useful for night operations. The rear of the hull is equipped with communication and navigation facilities to facilitate control by Ukrainian operatives from behind.
The R73 anti-aircraft missile was developed by the Soviet Lightning Design Bureau in the 1970s as a short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile originally intended for aircraft. This weapon can be mounted on aircraft such as the MiG-29, Su-27, Su-34, and Su-35, with a range of 30 to 40 kilometers and speeds reaching 2.5 Mach, capable of targeting with its infrared seeker. The original version of the R73 missile has a 40-degree off-boresight capability, considered superior among missiles of the 1980s. Russia later developed an improved version, the R73M, with an off-boresight capability increased to 75 degrees.
Although the R73 missile is an air-to-air missile, it has long been modified for use as a surface-to-air missile. For example, during the 1999 Kosovo War, the Serbian military converted R73 missiles into surface-to-air missiles. The Houthi rebels have also done this to combat the Saudi air force. Therefore, Ukraine’s use of R73-modified unmanned boats comes as no surprise.
Currently, Russian warships are hardly seen in the western Black Sea, so Ukraine’s main targets are Russian helicopters and fighter jets. The unmanned boats carrying anti-aircraft missiles can sink and harass the Russian air force.
This tactic has caused significant trouble for Russia. Russia has attempted various means to respond. For instance, a video released by the Russian Air Force in May of this year showed a Russian suicide drone crashing into a Ukrainian unmanned boat. Although the drone exploded, the effectiveness was unclear.
Facing unmanned boat attacks, Russia primarily relies on its air force, such as the Mi-8 helicopter. This twin-engine medium-sized helicopter entered service in the 1960s, originally intended for transport but later modified with weapons like rocket launchers, aviation bombs, and anti-tank missiles to provide fire support.
In the Black Sea, Ukraine’s unmanned boats have punched above their weight, effectively demonstrating the “small defeats big” principle. These small unmanned boats cost only tens of thousands of dollars, yet Russia has to expend great human and material resources, employing helicopters, drones, and even warships to counter them. While expensive helicopters and warships easily become prey for unmanned boats, even if destroyed, Ukraine can simply build more.
Ukraine’s unmanned boat tactics in the Black Sea can be seen as a paradigm of modern warfare. As a country without a traditional navy, Ukraine has not only defeated the Russian navy but also left the Russian air force helpless.
So that’s the New Year’s gift Ukraine has given everyone. Happy New Year! See you next time.
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