Maritime drones: potential tool for Crimea's return to Ukraine

BBC explained the growing use of maritime drones by Ukraine and their significance.

The use of sea drones in the war is creating a significant impact. Sea drones are challenging to detect on radar, as they travel close to the water's surface and operate quietly. Despite Ukraine's limited naval capabilities, these sea drones have prevented Russia from establishing full control over the Black Sea, as noted by Katarzyna Zysk, a professor at the Norwegian Institute of Defence Studies.

Sea drones can be swiftly deployed without the requirement for a fully-trained crew.

“Some Ukrainian sea drones have been developed with help from crowdfunding campaigns. They are usually made with "off-the-shelf" components normally for commercial - rather than military - use,” BBC cites Sidharth Kaushal from the defense think tank Rusi.

In October 2022, an unprecedented attack on Russia's naval base in Sevastopol utilized both sea and aerial drones, resulting in damage to at least three Russian ships, according to GeoConfirmed, an organization that analyzes satellite and open-source imagery. Subsequently, Russia bolstered defenses around the base, as confirmed by recent satellite images.

“Russian media and bloggers have claimed that Russia also used them in an attack on a bridge in the port city of Odesa. However, the BBC has seen no evidence to support this.

How many sea drones each side holds is not publicly known. It's also unclear how much they cost, but one drone publicised by the Ukrainian government has a price tag of USD 250,000. That would be cheaper than many types of long-range missile,” the outlet writes.

However, sea drones have certain limitations, including narrow sensor coverage and the need for constant communication with controllers for targeting. Despite these challenges, Ukraine's innovative approach has garnered international attention and is inspiring other navies to develop similar systems and operational practices.