Ukraine is now using bomber drones launched from unmanned surface vessels (USVs aka drone boats) to attack targets in Crimea.
This includes a high-value Russian radar installation on peninsula.The strikes mark the latest iteration of Ukraines drone boat campaign thats kept Russias Black Sea Fleet (BSF) at bay and damaged enemy military facilities in occupied Crimea as well as the Kerch Bridge.On the night of July 1 to 2, 2025, Ukraines Southern Defense Forces carried out a brilliant, high-precision special operation,the Ukrainian MoD claimed on X, adding that it destroyed three critical components of the prized Nebo-M radar system.The use of bomber drones launched from sea drones offers some important advantages.
In March,we told you abouthow the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) used first-person view (FPV) drones launched from drone boats against Russian radars and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems.
Using bomber drones gives Ukrainian operators the ability to strike more than one target per drone with possibly heavier warheads than FPV drones can carry.They can also travel farther while maintaining their connection, as they dont have to dive to the ground to hit their targets.As we have reported in the past, Ukraine also has bomber drones that can launch guided munitions with a heavier punch.One of the bomber drones launched by the sea drone was reportedly later recovered by the Russians.The drone boat was later destroyed by Russian aviation, Two Majors claimed without providing visual proofThe communications architecture for such a concept would include a satellite communications system on the boat, which they already carry and often multiple types at once, and a direct line-of-sight radio link from the boat to the drone.
This would allow operators to control the drone in real time from anywhere, with the boat working as a platform to launch the drone and also as a relay and control node for it.Source: The War Zone