Ukrainian drone strike shakes Sevastopol and Novorossiysk
In the early morning of May 16, Ukrainians conducted a massive drone attack on Sevastopol and Novorossiysk. The Russian Ministry of Defence claims they managed to neutralize over a hundred drones, including 51 over Crimea itself. The exact number of drones that ultimately reached their targets is unknown. However, images of the devices used by Ukraine for the strike have started appearing online. One of the images shows an unmanned boat armed with an R-73 missile for engaging aerial targets.
The photo depicts a Ukrainian surface drone washed ashore in the Sevastopol area. Experts from the so-called open-source intelligence account Ukrainian Front on platform X point out that the drone is armed with an R-73 missile (NATO code AA-11 Archer). This weapon is typically seen mounted under the wings of MiG-29 or Su-27 fighters. It is worth noting, however, that Ukrainians are known for their creative approach to armament and its modifications.
Ukrainian drone off the coast of Crimea
The R-73 is an air-to-air guided missile designed for short-range aerial target destruction. It is considered equivalent to the newer versions of the American AIM-9 Sidewinder missile. The R-73 is about 3 metres long and has a diameter of about 20 centimetres. It weighs 105 kilograms and has a 7-kilogram fragmentation warhead. The missile can travel at speeds up to Mach 2.5 (3050 km/h) and has a range of up to 30 kilometres.
Users praise the R-73 for its high manoeuvrability, provided by its gas-dynamic control. This, combined with thermal homing, offers a reasonably effective solution for combating enemy bombers, fighters, or transport aircraft, regardless of the time of day or the direction of the approaching aircraft. It is possible that their role during the strike on Crimea was to weaken the Russian air force.
Massive attack by Ukrainian drones
The attacks on the Russians involved both airborne and maritime drones. The latter, in particular, has been a significant nuisance for the Black Sea Fleet stationed in Crimea. Ukrainians possess at least several models of these unmanned vehicles in their arsenal, which have repeatedly thwarted the Kremlin's plans. The multipurpose surface vessel Magura V5 and the Sea Baby drone are among them. The kamikaze-type underwater drones known as Mariczka also pose a severe threat.
