Ukrainian Navy made history again on May 2nd, with Ukrainian unmanned boats using American Sidewinder missiles to shoot down two Russian Su-30 fighter jets in the Black Sea. Not just one, but two, a double strike.
The scene shows the missile being launched, with Ukrainian military personnel tracking the Su-30 fighter jets in flight through infrared imaging. Within seconds, the Su-30 jets were hit, resulting in a violent explosion, burning debris filled the sky, and huge wreckage fell into the sea. In the final moments on the screen, a small light can be seen in the upper right corner, which is likely a Russian pilot who managed to parachute after being hit, successfully escaping. According to a report by the Russian satellite communication agency, the Su-30 fighter jets were shot down, and the pilot successfully parachuted and was rescued by nearby fishing boats.
The initial online reports stated that Ukrainian unmanned boats launched Soviet-era R-73 missiles, shooting down a Su-30 fighter jet. However, in an interview with the American War Zone website, Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov clarified that the Ukrainian Navy used Magulra-7 unmanned boats to launch American AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, downing two Su-30 multirole fighter jets. The footage seen before was the first time a Su-30 fighter jet was downed, with Budanov stating that there is currently no video or images of a second engagement. Budanov also mentioned that after the second group of aircraft was shot down, all the crew members lost their lives.
In this ambush, Ukraine used three Magulra-7 unmanned boats, with two of them firing at the aircraft. This attack also exposed the lack of countermeasures by the Russian military against Ukrainian drones. Unmanned boats operate at a very low altitude and have a small profile, making them difficult to detect for surface warships. This leads to the necessity of deploying aircraft for aerial reconnaissance, which is why Russia sent Su-30 jets – for reconnaissance and attack purposes.
However, the second major issue exposed was the poor radar performance of the Russian fighter jets. Both the R-73 and Sidewinder missiles are short-range missiles with limited range and are fired within visual range. Moreover, in this scenario, the missiles were launched from low to high, resulting in significant kinetic energy loss, limiting their theoretical range and altitude. The Su-30 being shot down by a Sidewinder signifies that the Su-30 was flying at a sufficiently low altitude.
The reason the Su-30 was flying at such a low altitude is likely due to its electronic equipment, such as radar for maritime search and thermal imaging devices, being unable to identify the small-profile Magulra unmanned boats at high altitudes. Radar imaging over the sea is complex due to the constantly fluctuating waves, which reflect radar waves, creating clutter that makes detecting and countering Ukrainian unmanned boats more challenging. This forced the Su-30 to fly at a lower altitude, making it easier for Ukraine to detect and launch missiles.
Footage of the Magulra-7 unmanned boat has been circulated online, showing its compact structure with launch racks on its sides, loaded with two Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Ukraine’s development of maritime unmanned boats has progressed from the early “Sea Baby” to the Magulra-7.
What is most surprising about this incident is not only the downing of two Su-30 fighter jets but also the strategic location of the attack. The ambush targeted a spot 50 kilometers west of Novorossiysk, a Russian mainland port, a daunting 800 kilometers from the shores of Ukraine. Ukraine not only shot down Russian fighter jets in the Black Sea but also pushed the front line to Russia’s doorstep. Starting from 2023, Ukraine has been using various long-range missiles, Storm cruise missiles, Neptune missiles, and drones to attack various military bases in Crimea. Military installations in Sevastopol harbor have come under frequent attack. As a result, the Russian fleet had to relocate its main warships from Crimea to the Russian mainland coast, primarily to Novorossiysk and Sochi. Therefore, Novorossiysk has now become the new headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet.
Ukraine’s successful military operation signifies that the Black Sea Fleet has not only been expelled from Crimea but is now unsafe even in Russian territory.
This is not the first time Ukrainian unmanned boats have used missiles to shoot down Russian aircraft. In December 2024, a Ukrainian unmanned boat launched an R-73 missile, shooting down a Mi-8 helicopter in the Black Sea.
From the video footage released by Ukraine at the time, the silhouette of the helicopter was clearly visible in the night sky, and then it turned over the sea. The Russian helicopter was seen firing machine guns at the Ukrainian unmanned boat, creating splashes on the sea, but causing no damage. The infrared imaging showed Ukrainian military personnel had successfully targeted the Mi-8 helicopter. Upon launching a missile, the Mi-8 helicopter was hit by the Ukrainian-launched R-73 missile in the night, exploding in a massive fireball before crashing into the sea.
It is worth noting that in the attack last December, Ukraine used the Soviet-era R-73 short-range air-to-air missile, while this time, they employed the American AIM-9. Both are short-range missiles using infrared guidance, manufactured along similar principles, with the R-73 having a significant advantage of a larger off-boresight angle. This means the R-73 missile has better maneuverability to adjust its position and attack its target with a theoretical off-boresight angle of up to positive or negative 75 degrees.
The American Sidewinder comes in various models, such as the AIM-9X, also featuring a larger off-boresight angle for launching conditions. However, Ukraine does not possess the AIM-9X, with its Western allies providing them with the advanced AIM-9M.
The AIM-9M missile dates back to the 1980s when it was first delivered to the US Air Force in 1983 and widely deployed during the Gulf War. It is an improved version of the earlier AIM-9L model, boasting enhanced infrared counter-countermeasure capabilities, a low-smoke motor to reduce its visual signature, and a circular-explosive warhead for improved targeting and locking on to targets. Unlike the R-73, the AIM-9M does not have a significant off-boresight angle capability.
The question arises as to why Ukraine previously used the R-73 missile from the Soviet era and switched to the American Sidewinder this year?
Regarding this issue, Ukrainian intelligence chief Budanov told the American War Zone website that they used various missile models on the Magulra-7 unmanned boats, with the AIM-9 Sidewinder being the most effective.
What makes the 1980s AIM-9 Sidewinder missile better than the R-73? Budanov did not provide detailed explanations, but the most significant difference lies in the superior infrared counter-countermeasure and background recognition capabilities of the American Sidewinder missile. After the missile is launched, the Su-30 fighter jet’s infrared warning system would certainly alert the pilot, prompting the release of flares to counter the infrared threats, a common procedure. It is clear that when it comes to electronic technology, the US has a significant advantage over Russia, enabling the identification and striking of targets despite strong infrared interference.
Currently, the Ukrainian military’s use of unmanned boat harassment tactics has not only completely suppressed the activities of the Black Sea Fleet but also dealt a devastating blow to the Russian Air Force. Russian military bloggers expressed disappointment with the Russian military on Telegram. After the loss of the flagship Moscow and the unchanged combat capability of the Black Sea Fleet, the fleet is now confined to ports and bays. Ukraine holds a decisive advantage in using unmanned boats, able to launch attacks in any waterway and control Russian coastal areas and adjacent airspace.
From the lamentations of the Russian military bloggers, it can be seen that Ukraine has not only blocked the fleet but even Russia’s most advanced Su-30 fighter jets have become prey to unmanned boats. Surrendering due to insufficient strength without a fight will likely yield no results – not only will your own people lose respect for you, but even your enemies will see through your weaknesses. Ukraine, without a navy and far from being a match for Russia in terms of naval power, has managed to secure the dominance of the Black Sea through various drone tactics. This achievement is undoubtedly a classic case study that should be documented in future textbooks and serves as a valuable lesson for others to learn and emulate.
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