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Russian military forces appear to have released the first known footage of a first-person-view (FPV) drone attack on a unmanned surface vehicle (USV). If confirmed, it would be a logical outcome for two new types of low-cost weapon: the remote-controlled suicide drone versus the remote-controlled suicide boat.<\/p>\n
FPV drones were originally designed for low-cost recreational use. On the battlefield in Ukraine, they have been armed with explosives and turned into guided weapons – potent and deadly, but vulnerable to jamming, as the drone's guidance depends on a radio connection with a human operator. <\/p>\n
The new footage was taken from the aerial drone's perspective, and shows the quadcopter zooming in low on approach to a drifting surface vessel, identical in appearance to a Ukrainian Magura V5 unmanned attack boat. The video ends at the time of apparent impact. <\/p>\n
\nPossibly the first documented case of a strike with FPV drone targeting an unmanned surface vehicle (USV).<\/p>\n
The strike was carried by Russian forces on a Ukrainian USV in the Black Sea area. pic.twitter.com\/S3dTqeNnxv<\/a><\/p>\n
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) May 29, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Critics quickly noted that the vessel was not moving at the time of the encounter, and was minimally visible from the drone's perspective on approach – potential signs of a staged video or a training exercise. However, at least one Russian military commentator suggested that FPV drones are an important part of Russia's "final" defensive arrangement to fend off Ukrainian attack boats. <\/p>\n
"We have the final scheme for countering USVs, [which] includes optical detection from large UAVs and ship radars, or from shore," commented the RusEngineer Telegram channel. "[Then] get them from the coast and ships using helicopters, airborne guns or aircraft with cluster bombs, then at a distance of up to 10-15 kilometers from a ship or shore with FPV drones." <\/p>\n
About 15 Russian naval vessels have been damaged or destroyed by Ukraine's drones and missiles since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, including two warships sunk in a month's time by drone boats earlier this year. Mass nighttime attacks have proven effective at penetrating Russian defenses, even at long range from Ukraine.<\/p>\n
The problem has attracted high-level attention from Russian defense officials, who have increased the resources dedicated to countering the new high-tech threat. Russian sources have also released videos of attack helicopters hunting and destroying the small surface vessels at sea, before they reach the target zone. <\/p>\n
\nFootage from Russian Ka-29 helicopter engaging Ukrainian USV with R-73 air-to-air heat-seeking missiles. https:\/\/t.co\/ONS0uacMKB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/E6zGjmCbuv<\/a><\/p>\n