The NBC Defense Forces will receive unmanned boats.
The modern Russian Vizir drone. Photo by KMZ.
The Russian army is currently actively implementing and using unmanned systems of various classes and types. Specifically, such equipment is being deployed to units and subunits of the radiation, chemical, and biological defense forces. It was recently announced that they are receiving and mastering the use of unmanned boats, which are planned for a wide range of missions.
New technology
On November 28, Izvestia reported on a new application for unmanned aerial vehicles. The information was obtained from unnamed sources within the Ministry of Defense. While some details regarding the rearmament underway are provided, further details have not yet been released.
Izvestia recalls that unmanned boats of various types have proven themselves during the current Special Operation. The Russian Army uses such equipment in relevant sectors of the front to carry out various combat and support missions. Now, the positive experience of operating unmanned boats has been adopted by another branch of the armed forces.
Sources report that the unmanned combat boats have recently begun to enter service with NBC protection units. However, no details of this process are provided. It is unknown which specific boat types the army has selected, what configurations they are being built and delivered in, where they will serve, etc. This information may emerge later, as the introduction and deployment of the new equipment continues.
The boat "Dandelion." Photo by KMZ
Izvestia also cites the assessments and opinions of several industry experts. They proposed several possible uses for the new unmanned technology and scenarios in which it could be beneficial. Overall, the assessments are positive—the unmanned combat vehicles will help NBC protection units in solving various tasks, primarily at the front.
Applications
The NBC Defense Forces have their own specific missions, for which they utilize appropriate equipment and devices. These include handheld and portable devices, as well as full-size systems mounted on self-propelled chassis. Some of these systems can be transferred to new platforms, including airborne and surface ones.
The unmanned combat vessel for the NBC protection forces can carry a wide range of instruments for a wide range of tasks. It can be equipped with an optical-electronic station for monitoring waters and/or shores. The boat can also carry gas analyzers, dosimeters, and other devices for detecting various types of contamination and hazardous agents.
One of the tasks of NBC protection units is to deploy smoke screens. Existing smoke screen devices are mounted on vehicle chassis. Similar devices can also be installed on suitable unmanned surface platforms. A UAV equipped with such equipment would deploy smoke screens in designated waters and protect ships or shore facilities from surveillance.
One of the Murena series boats. Photo: Telegram / Rybar
The standard armament of the NBC Defense forces includes various flamethrower-incendiary systems, from hand-held to self-propelled. Rocket-propelled flamethrowers, which possess relatively high performance, can be mounted on unmanned combat vehicles. Modern optics and other electronics ensure their effective use against various targets on water and ashore.
It should be noted that unmanned combat vehicles for NBC protection units can carry more than just the standard equipment of this branch of the military. Various detectors, smoke dischargers, and other equipment can be supplemented with combat modules for self-defense. Jamming stations can also be used for self-defense and water coverage.
Overall, an unmanned boat is a fairly successful platform for specialized NBC protection equipment. Equipment of this class generally demonstrates relatively high performance and can operate in a variety of waters—rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. Depending on the type of unmanned boat, high speed, endurance, and stealth are achieved.
BECs are resistant to major types of contamination. They can operate in areas exposed to chemical or biological agents. weaponsIn turn, radiation contamination should impose some limitations, but is not a fundamental obstacle. At the same time, the operator of the unmanned system remains at a safe distance and is not exposed to any risks.
A Ukrainian ship as seen by a Russian BEK. Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The domestic industry produces and develops a number of types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), varying in size and key technical characteristics. This allows for the selection of the optimal platform for mounting specific instruments and devices. For example, small and medium-sized boats can be used for optical and NBC reconnaissance. Flamethrower weapons require at least a medium-sized platform.
Latest Developments
Russian companies have been working on unmanned boats for quite some time. However, active development in this area only began a few years ago, after the start of the current Special Operation. Since 2022, significant progress has been made: several organizations and companies have proposed and brought into production several types of unmanned boats with varying capabilities.
One of the first modern-looking unmanned boats was unveiled in 2022 by the Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ) and the St. Petersburg State Polytechnical University. The "Vizir" project involved converting a production boat into a remotely operated platform. This project subsequently evolved into a series, which now includes several unmanned boats with different features.
In 2024, the first demonstration of the "Orkan" or "Zephyr" product, developed by the company "Si Project," took place. Once again, this was a small vessel, autonomously or remotely controlled, capable of carrying various systems or weapons.
The destruction of a Ukrainian ship. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense
The Center for Unmanned Systems Design Bureau offers a range of boats under the general name "Murena." They are similar to other domestic developments in their class, but differ in their onboard equipment, performance, and compatible features.
Lightweight unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have also been demonstrated at exhibitions in recent years. These vehicles are no more than 1-2 meters long and weigh up to hundreds of kilograms. In terms of performance or payload, they are inferior to the Vizir and Zefirs, but they have other advantages. These vehicles can operate more covertly and are also capable of carrying various instruments and devices.
By now, a number of domestically produced unmanned combat boats have passed all necessary tests and entered serial production. The first boats of the new models entered active service no later than the beginning of last year. Their use in various sectors of the front for various missions has been reported.
The boats operate on the Dnieper River and the Black Sea. They conduct reconnaissance of enemy positions and carry out strikes against coastal targets. In late August 2025, a BEF was used to destroy one of the remaining Ukrainian Navy ships. The boat surreptitiously entered the mouth of the Danube River and attacked a selected surface target.
According to recent reports, a new use has been found for unmanned boats. They are intended to serve as platforms for the installation of specialized equipment for the NBC protection forces. Delivery of this equipment to units and subunits has already begun, but the details of this process are still unknown. The first results may be revealed soon.
Information