Despite Russia achieving numerous victories on the battlefield, their Black Sea Fleet has been paralyzed, suffering heavy losses even within its own bases. Does Ukraine possess a miraculous weapon?
Ukrainian drones have successfully neutralized Russia’s Black Sea Fleet. Why is this, and what lessons can the Russian Navy learn?
What Makes Ukrainian Drones Dangerous?
In reality, Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels (USVs) are not highly complex; they are essentially modified versions of conventional motorboats, equipped with enhanced control systems and additional weapons and electro-optical devices.
The engines and electronics of these drones are easily obtainable from civilian markets. The electro-optical equipment, combined with Starlink satellite terminal communication systems, forms a semi-automatic control system.
Operators can gather intelligence from NATO satellite signals, various reconnaissance and navigation means, and control the USVs to designated combat areas, approach targets, and then launch attacks.
Direct control of the drones is achieved through video feeds from onboard cameras, transmitted via the Starlink system.
To increase accuracy and reliability, these USVs are also equipped with inertial navigation systems and GPS, in case of Starlink system failures.
The main advantage of USVs is their low cost. The Ukrainian military can assemble them in almost any small workshop using imported parts. Even if Russia finds and attacks these locations, Ukraine has sufficient supply chains.
Additionally, the small size of the USVs allows for production deep inland and secret transportation to coastal areas.
Currently, Ukrainian USVs, besides carrying explosives, can also be armed with offensive weapons. For example, the Haiying USV is equipped with launchers capable of firing BM-21 Grad unguided rockets.
Another variant carries only two B-8V20A or S-8 rocket launch modules (unguided rockets used on Soviet combat aircraft).
Moreover, the Sea Baby USV can be equipped with R-73 air-to-air missiles, modified for launch from the water to target low-flying threats.
However, the likelihood of an unguided rocket hitting a target is very low. Ukraine’s strategy to gain an advantage over the Russian Navy involves launching a saturation attack using swarm tactics with suicide USVs, a cost-effective approach.
Why Is Russia’s Black Sea Fleet Helpless?
When the conflict erupted, Ukraine’s small navy was quickly paralyzed and nearly wiped out by Russian strikes, losing all its surface vessels, from transports to patrol boats.
In such a scenario, Ukraine primarily used USVs, cruise missiles, and UAVs to conduct highly effective coordinated attacks, decimating Russia’s Black Sea Fleet.
Facing an “asymmetric” naval war, the Black Sea Fleet quickly found itself helpless against what seemed like crude Ukrainian weapons.
The question arises: why did a relatively reputable fleet like the Black Sea Fleet become paralyzed by seemingly primitive Ukrainian weapons? Experts point to several main reasons:
- Historical Tradition of Naval Weakness: Russia’s naval strength has traditionally been weak. The massive warships of the Black Sea Fleet—Cold War relics—serve more as deterrents to “timid” adversaries than as effective combat tools. For instance, the Moskva cruiser, generally outdated and crude, features antique reconnaissance equipment and outdated radar, rendering it inefficient.Despite the large number of missiles carried by the Moskva and their range and destructive power, these weapons lack stealth capabilities and are easily targeted. The Moskva’s radar and fire control systems are outdated, particularly its satellite communication and combat command systems. Unlike the agile American warships, the Moskva, akin to an elephant, is slow to react.Consequently, when faced with advanced, flexible weapons supported by high-quality intelligence, this old warship becomes an easy target.Although Moscow’s forces might be winning on land, the Black Sea Fleet had to retreat to its bases, where it still suffered heavy losses.
- Inadequate Response Capabilities: The large warships of the Russian Navy have poor combat response capabilities, and their reconnaissance and base defense systems are limited.Thus, it is not that Ukrainian USVs are powerful, but rather that the Russian Navy’s response capabilities are weak and have not been adequately upgraded for a long time. Russia’s satellite system also lags behind the GPS and Starlink systems of the US.In response to the threat from Ukrainian USVs, the Russian Navy has proposed several solutions, with helicopters being seen as the best way to destroy them.Naval base patrol helicopters and those on ships can easily detect and attack USVs. However, Ukraine has recently installed R-73 air-to-air missiles on USVs, posing a threat to Russian helicopters.Additionally, the sonar carried by Russian helicopters is outdated and cannot timely detect Ukrainian USVs approaching bases. Meanwhile, Russia’s limited A-50U early warning aircraft cannot fill the reconnaissance gap over the sea.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the Russian Navy’s Black Sea Fleet is helpless against Ukrainian USVs.
