Russian media have released footage of a Ukrainian maritime drone being intercepted as it manoeuvred to avoid fire from a Russian Ka-29 helicopter. This happened during today's attack by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) on Russian vessels in the Black Sea.
The video shows a Ukrainian maritime drone performing manoeuvres to evade fire from a Russian Ka-29 helicopter.
The Russians also released a photo of the drone taken from a helicopter, which shows a launcher for two missiles. One missile is missing. According to the Russians, the drone managed to launch it at the Mi-8 helicopter, but missed.
It is very likely that the launcher is stabilized and can be rotated. It is likely that the missile's homing head is used to lock on to the target. According to the Ukrainian website Militarnyi, the missile is probably an R-73 short-range air-to-air missile. A distinctive feature of the R-73 is the specific shape of its tail fin.
Russian forces managed to inflict critical damage to the Magura V5 drone, which subsequently exploded. Despite the destruction of this particular vehicle, Ukrainian strategy included targeting a Russian speedboat in the Vuzka Bay near Chornomorsk on the western coast of the occupied Crimea, which was successfully destroyed.
These developments highlight Ukraine's continued adaptability and tactical deployment of unmanned systems such as the Magura V5. These drones are part of the HUR's Group 13 special forces and are used for maritime confrontation with enemy vessels.
So, despite some losses, Ukrainian naval drones equipped with anti-aircraft missiles continue to play a vital role in naval warfare scenarios against enemy ships. They demonstrate significant offensive capabilities against enemy ships and even aircraft.
Last night, the Group 13 special forces unit destroyed a Russian speedboat with a Magura V5 in the Vuzka Bay near Chornomorske in the western part of the Crimean peninsula. Later, the HUR clarified that a Russian Project 12150 Mongoose high-speed patrol boat was destroyed.
These boats have been manufactured since 2000. The estimated cost of the destroyed boat is $3 million.
Source: Militarnyi
