First-ever battle between two autonomous naval drones 'won' by Ukraine — thanks to a salvo from a remote weapon turret

Ukraine announced that its Sargan-3000 drone boat had destroyed a Russian counterpart in the Black Sea, marking the first time two autonomous naval drones had fought each other directly at sea. The Ukrainian Navy attributed the kill to a salvo from a remotely operated turret, known as the Protector RWS, which is armed with a 12.7mm machine gun rather than explosives.

The Ukrainian military intelligence agency HUR located the targeted Russian craft before naval crews maneuvered their vessel towards it. Prior to this, most sea drone attacks relied on ramming an enemy ship with a warhead aboard, potentially destroying the attacking platform in the process. The Protector RWS, designed by Kongsberg and used by NATO forces on ground vehicles and small craft, suggests an attempt to preserve the attacking platform for future missions.

Neither Ukraine nor Russia has provided video footage of the confrontation, which is unusual given the emphasis both sides place on drone footage. While Ukraine has a track record of successful drone operations, including the sinking of a Russian patrol ship near Gelendzhik and a Russian fighter jet in May 2025, this is the first instance of a direct engagement between two autonomous naval drones.

The claim of this being a groundbreaking event should be treated with caution until further verification from independent sources is available.