Kyiv Reveals 'Drone Aircraft Carrier' to Menace Russian Black Sea Fleet
Ukraine has mainly used its sea drone fleet to hammer Russia's Black Sea naval vessels, including its most prominent warships.
Ukraine showcased its new sea drone prototype, capable of slinging other unmanned vehicles, as the nation celebrated its independence day on Monday. Dubbed the MV11, the drone vessel was unveiled during a parade of ground, aerial, and naval drones in Kyiv, Ukraine's capital. According to Oleh Rohynskyi, CEO of Ukrainian defense start-up UFORCE, the MV11 will become the cornerstone of numerous successful operations and aid in pushing back enemy forces.
Ukraine lacks a substantial navy or large warships, yet its military, security, and intelligence agencies have effectively utilized long-range missiles, airborne, and waterborne drones to target Russian assets in the Black Sea. Sea drones are typically employed as kamikaze weapons, often causing dramatic destruction of Russian vessels with significantly less cost than manned platforms.
They are also used for reconnaissance missions and to identify potential targets. Russia has responded to Ukraine's success by developing its own fleet of unmanned surface vessels (USVs), while Estonian intelligence warns of Russia's growing focus on attack-focused USV units across its naval fleets and the Caspian Flotilla. Nine Ukrainian USVs traversed the Dnieper River during Monday's independence day festivities.
The MV11 represents the latest and most substantial addition to UFORCE's Magura drone series, which has undergone multiple upgrades, some of which incorporate machine guns and surface-to-air missiles. Not only is the MV11 the largest maritime drone, but it is also a single carrier capable of transporting and launching other unmanned systems from far offshore for operations across all domains.
The drone can remain at sea for up to a week and transport up to 2,200 kilograms of sensors, fuel, missiles, or additional drones. The MV11 can carry up to 18 Sting interceptor drones, each designed with small explosive warheads, and features a fixed camera for navigation assistance. While this new drone will not drastically alter Ukraine's current drone arsenal against Russian targets, it will undoubtedly be a valuable asset in the Black Sea theater.
Drone expert Steve Wright from the United Kingdom believes the MV11 is a useful addition to Ukraine's naval forces, as it can remain in an area far from its base for an extended period compared to a solo drone. This positioning allows the drone to deny the enemy access to the area initially, rather than merely reacting to incoming threats.
Notably, the technology behind the MV11 has been in development for some time, making it relatively straightforward to integrate into a single platform. NATO is closely monitoring Ukraine's utilization of naval drones, as the alliance explicitly stated its intention to learn from Ukraine's approach to using USVs in the Black Sea.
In July, a joint NATO-Ukrainian organization reported that Ukrainian military experts had briefed dozens of NATO and affiliated officials on Kyiv's USV tactics. Additionally, U.S.-based ReconCraft, which manufactures boats for special operations forces, will produce Magura USVs in the United States, including facilities in Oregon and South Carolina, following a memorandum of understanding signed in July.
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