New kamikaze boats of Ukraine
New Ukrainian kamikaze boat on the water[/ Center]
Since last fall, the Kiev regime has been trying to use disposable attack unmanned boats against Russian ships and infrastructure. It is known that several types of such equipment with similar characteristics and capabilities are in service. A new sample of an unmanned kamikaze boat was recently shown on foreign television.
money and boats
Not so long ago, the Kiev regime announced the development of a promising kamikaze attack boat to combat Russian coastal infrastructure and ships. It was planned to create a large strike "fleet" from such watercraft. By that time, the project was almost ready, and in order to interest the audience, they even revealed the approximate performance characteristics of the boat.
It was planned to build a "strike fleet" at the expense of donations collected through one of the crowdfunding platforms. It was reported that the cost of one boat exceeds 250 thousand US dollars, and in total it is required to build a hundred of such products. Accordingly, the total cost of the campaign was expected to exceed $25-27 million.
According to known data, part of the required funds have already been collected and spent to achieve the intended goals. With this money, a certain number of promised boats of a new type were built. It is alleged that the personnel have already mastered such equipment and have begun full-fledged operation and combat use.
Boats in the frame
In the last days of July, the American television channel CNN showed a report on the new Ukrainian kamikaze boats. The products were shown close enough, which makes it possible to determine the main features of the design and configuration. In addition, some design features of interest were named.
The report included footage of the launch of the boat into the water and preparations for going to sea. Also, from different angles, they showed a boat moving at high speed, performing various maneuvers, etc. The operator's console, from which the combat watercraft is controlled, also got into the frame.
CNN reporters and Ukrainian militants participating in the filming report that such boats are already being used to carry out sabotage. It was these kamikaze boats that were used in the recent attack on the Kerch bridge. To damage the surface structure, two similar products of the new model were used. In general, it is argued that the new boats are serious weapons, pose a threat to the Russian Black Sea fleet and interfere with his work.
However, such estimates look doubtful. Our Ministry of Defense regularly reports repulsing attacks using unmanned boats. Kamikaze boats are sent to our ships, but they are noticed in time and destroyed by fire from different systems. In fact, the recent attack on the Kerch bridge is the only success of the boats and their operators. At the same time, such a terrorist attack received a proper assessment and a response of a military nature.
New development
The CNN report allows us to consider the new Ukrainian boat and determine its main features and features. In addition, the main characteristics of various kinds were previously disclosed. Together, this allows you to imagine the general capabilities of the boat and understand what kind of threat it can pose.
It is reported that when assembling new boats, available components and assemblies are widely used. Especially for them, only individual parts and systems are made. As a result, an unmanned craft differs little from other small boats and has similar characteristics.
Outwardly, the Ukrainian kamikaze boat is similar to various "manned" boats of similar sizes and displacement. A streamlined boat is used, designed for high speeds. From above, the body is completely covered with a roof-fairing. An optical-electronic station is located on the roof, and a large flat communication antenna is located in the stern.
The length of the boat reaches 5,5 m with a width of no more than 1,5-2 m. The total weight of the structure is up to 1 ton. A high-explosive warhead weighing up to 300 kg is placed inside the hull. Undermining is probably carried out on contact with the target or at the command of the operator.
Apparently, for reasons of economy and to obtain high running performance, the boat is equipped with an outboard internal combustion engine. With its help, as stated, speeds up to 80 km / h and a range of 800 km are provided. Autonomy is declared at the level of 60 hours.
The boat is controlled using the operator's console; Perhaps there is a mode of independent movement along a given route. The operator sends commands to the craft, and the telemetry and video signal from the optical "ball" come back. Communication is carried out through the Starlink system with 256-bit signal encryption. It is claimed that such a radio channel is protected from jamming and interception.
Operator console
Threat and response
Thus, the new Ukrainian kamikaze boat is actually an existing light surface platform equipped with new controls and carrying a warhead. A product of this kind poses a certain danger to ships and coastal infrastructure. However, it is easy to see that it can and should be fought. Moreover, such threats are successfully repelled, and the overall effectiveness of the boats remains low. However, the Ukrainian formations still managed to carry out a high-profile action with the help of such equipment - of course, if the Kerch bridge was really attacked by boats of this type, and not by other equipment.
The new kamikaze boat has several characteristic features that limit its actual capabilities and to some extent contribute to the fight against it. So, the disadvantage is the use of a ready-made surface platform of a sufficiently large size. The resulting boat, unlike the previously shown semi-submersible sample, remains almost completely above the water, which facilitates its detection by technical means or the naked eye.
Apparently, there is no protection of vital units on the boat. As a consequence, it can be damaged or destroyed even by small arms fire. At the same time, the defending shooter is able to hit the boat's warhead and destroy it with one shot.
Despite the statements of the Ukrainian side, the boat may be exposed to electronic warfare. Management, incl. guidance on the final section of the trajectory is carried out according to the commands of the operator, and an external satellite signal is required for navigation. Despite the use of satellite communications, the suppression of all channels is quite possible.
From the threat of kamikaze boats, not only surveillance equipment and accurate fire will save, but also prevention by known methods. In particular, water areas can be protected by standard booms that block the passage of surface vessels. It is unlikely that the new Ukrainian boats have the means to overcome such obstacles.
In the context of the new Ukrainian kamikaze boat, it is necessary to recall older products of this class. As early as last autumn, unmanned craft of this kind came to Ukraine, and at the same time the first attempts to use them took place. In the future, such a technique was regularly used in various promotions, and without much success.
Semi-submersible boat mod. 2022 turned out to be not the best percussion tool. Despite the limited size, low profile design, high speed characteristics, etc., such products can be timely detected, suppressed and / or hit. Moreover, such tasks are successfully solved without any complex technical devices - binoculars and a machine gun are often enough. However, there are all the necessary means for more complex situations.
Dubious Alternatives
The Kiev regime has lost full-fledged naval forces and is now looking for alternatives to them. An attempt to restore strike capabilities at sea and interfere with our Black Sea Fleet, as well as damage infrastructure facilities, was unmanned kamikaze boats of at least two models.
The Ukrainian leadership has high hopes for such equipment. However, too much is expected of her. For one successful attack on the Kerch bridge, there are a number of failed actions that ended in the discovery and destruction of all boats. In addition, sites for the manufacture of unmanned vehicles are identified and destroyed. In light of all this, the prospects for disposable unmanned boats look predictable and understandable.
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