Magura drone menace: Russia struggles to defend black sea fleet
Attacks by Magura V5 water drones are increasingly troubling the Russian Federation. This Ukrainian weapon, against which the Russians find it hard to defend, has compelled the reinforcement of Russian ships operating in the Black Sea, reports the Defence Express portal.
The Black Sea Fleet is unable to defend itself against the nighttime attacks of the Magura water drones used by the Ukrainians, which the Russians themselves acknowledged in recent weeks. At that time, the Russian navy, due to increasing problems, decided to find a solution that would enhance the defensive capabilities of their ships.
In response to the intensifying attacks, which the Black Sea Fleet could not defend against, it was decided to commission the Russian company PPSH Laboratory to produce, among other things, thermal imaging systems for machine guns. Thanks to this, the Russians are expected to respond better to threats at night when the approaching Magura drone is essentially not visible on the horizon.
Now, the Russian Federation is reporting further actions by the defence industry to increase the survivability of Russian ships. Fearing the Magura drones, it has been decided to strengthen the protection of, among other things, the engine compartments of the vessels. “We must protect the engine compartment, a 'bottleneck' on all ships. It's the heart of the ship, and we will provide it with additional protection,” said Renat Mistachow, general director of the Ak Bars corporation.
Magura drones are wreaking havoc on Russian ships
Magura V5 marine drones are famous structures the Ukrainian army uses in the Black Sea. It is this drone that was responsible for the destruction of the ship Caesar Kunikov, which was sent to the bottom by the defenders in mid-February this year.
Magura V5 are relatively large constructions, reaching 18 feet in length and 5 feet in width. However, this does not prevent them from being almost unnoticed during attacks on Russian ships. This is primarily because the Ukrainians hunt Russian Federation vessels with Magura V5 drones at night when the Russians cannot see the approaching threat.
The structure develops a speed of 42 knots or nearly 50 miles per hour. This is an additional difficulty, as the high speed makes it challenging to hit the drone, even when it is detected. Oversized dimensions, however, are an advantage in this context, as they allow the Magura V5 to carry many explosives. This structure's maximum payload is 705 pounds.
The marine drone can cover up to 500 miles – this is its maximum range, which simultaneously determines some versatility of the construction. Magura V5 does not necessarily have to serve exclusively as a kamikaze drone. It can also conduct surveillance and search missions at sea.
