Russian navy struggles with night raids by Ukrainian sea drones
Attacks by Magura V5 water drones are increasingly troubling the Russian Federation. According to the Defense Express portal, Ukrainian weaponry, which is difficult for the Russians to defend against, has forced the reinforcement of Russian ships operating in the Black Sea.
6:16 AM EDT, July 2, 2024
As the Russians have acknowledged in recent weeks, the Black Sea Fleet is unable to defend itself against night attacks from the Ukrainian-used Magura water drones. Due to these growing issues, the Russian Navy decided to find a solution to enhance its vessels' defensive capabilities.
In response to the intensifying attacks that the Black Sea Fleet cannot defend against, it was decided to commission the Russian company Laboratory PPSH to produce, among other things, thermal imaging systems for machine guns. This will allow the Russians to respond better to threats at night when the approaching Magura drone is invisible on the horizon.
Now, the Russian Federation is reporting further actions taken by the defense industry to increase the survivability of Russian ships. Fearing Magura drones, it was decided to enhance the protection of, among other things, engine compartments in the vessels. "We must protect the engine compartment, a 'bottleneck' on all ships. It's the heart of the ship, and we will provide it with additional protection," said Renat Mistachov, general director of the Ak Bars corporation.
Magura drones wreak havoc among Russian ships
Magura V5 sea drones are famous constructions the Ukrainian army uses in the Black Sea. This drone is responsible for the destruction of the ship Cezar Kunikov, which was sent to the bottom by the defenders in mid-February this year.
Magura V5 drones are relatively large, reaching 18 feet in length and about 5 feet in width. However, this doesn't prevent them from being almost unnoticed during attacks aimed at Russian ships. This is primarily because Ukrainians hunt for Russian Federation units with Magura V5 drones at night when the Russians don't see the approaching threat.
The construction achieves around 42 knots, which is nearly 50 mph. This adds another layer of difficulty, as the high speed makes it challenging to hit the drone, even when it is detected. The large size is an advantage in this context, as it allows the Magura V5 to carry significant explosives. The maximum payload of this construction is 705 pounds.
The sea drone can cover up to 500 miles—this is its maximum range, providing versatility for the construction. The Magura V5 doesn’t have to serve exclusively as a kamikaze drone. It can also conduct surveillance and search operations at sea.
