Ukraine has unveiled a significantly updated version of its pioneering “Sea Baby” water drone. The seaborne UAVS have helped caused carnage to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet and inflicted serious damage to Vladimir Putin’s Crimea bridge.
The updated model can carry weapons armed with a two tonne payload and use artificial intelligence (AI) for more precise targeting. At the same time, the range of the Sea Baby drone has been extended from 1,000 to 1,500 kilometres, meaning it can operate anywhere in the Black Sea. Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) showcased the terrifying new model and its awesome fire power at a demonstration attended by the media.
Vessels were kitted out with multiple rockets launchers and machine-gun turrets, as the Sea Baby was put through its paces.
The upgraded version also features AI-assisted friend-or-foe targeting systems and can launch small aerial attack drones and multilayered self-destruct systems to prevent capture.
Drones have been instrumental in taking out at least 11 Russian naval vessels, including frigates and missile carriers.
Such has ben their impact that the Kremlin has been forced to relocate its Black Sea Fleet from Sevastopol in Crimea to Novorossiysk on Russia’s Black Sea coast.
Brigadier General Ivan Lukashevych told reporters: “The SBU became the first in the world to pioneer this new kind of naval warfare — and we continue to advance it.”
He added that the Sea Baby has evolved from a single-use strike craft into a reusable, multi-purpose platform that expands Ukraine’s offensive options.
The drones are operated remotely from a mobile command centre inside a van, where operators use a bank of screens and controls. The Sea Baby has been used in repeated attacks on the Kerch (Crimean) Bridge, most recently targeting its underwater supports in a bid to render it unusable for heavy military transport.
“Cohesion of the crew members is probably the most important thing. We are constantly working on that,” said one operator.
The bridge is a major transport link between mainland Russia and the Crimean peninsula and is an important logistical supply line for Putin’s army. It remains a key target for Ukraine.
Major explosions were heard in the vicinity of the Kacha military airbase on the peninsula on Thursday evening. Witnesses reported that fighter jets and helicopters were scrambling to evacuate the base, which has come under attack previously.
In September, an air raid on the base destroyed a An-26 transport plane and damaged a Be-12 amphibious aircraft. At the time of that attack, satellite images showed there were five Be-12 amphibious planes, one Antonov An-26 transport, three MiG-29K fighter jets and a combined eight helicopters