Sea Baby ^{[note 1]} is a Ukrainian multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicle (USV) developed for use by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is able to carry an explosive payload for use in kamikaze attacks, or equipped with other equipment loadouts for more specialised use. ^[4]

Development

SBU brigadier general Lukashevich Ivan Volodymyrovych proposed the idea of the agency operating unmanned attack boats, and early USV models were designed in July 2022 in collaboration with specialists from the Ukrainian Navy and assorted private companies. Later, the SBU decided to develop drones independently, culminating in the Sea Baby design for operational use by the SBU, while what eventually became the MAGURA V5 became operated by the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR). ^[4] Unlike the MAGURA V5 used by GUR which is designed primarily for striking warships actively operating at sea due to its smaller size and better maneuverability, the SBU opted for a design with a heavier payload for the Sea Baby, which is primarily used for striking static targets, such as ships docked in port. ^[5]

Models of the Sea Baby from late 2023 featured several redundant communications systems, and carried explosive warheads weighing up to 850 kg, compared to the 108 kg payloads from the earlier models. ^[4] The motive behind having multiple communications systems working redundantly is to avoid a repeat of an incident in September 2022 where SBU USVs reliant on Starlink for control and communications were left stranded after departing for a mission to strike the Russian frigate Admiral Makarov docked at Sevastopol, due to connectivity to Starlink in Crimea being declined by Elon Musk. ^[4] By the end of 2023, Sea Baby had transformed from a kamikaze attack vehicle to a multi-purpose platform capable of carrying different loadouts for various tasks, with examples including guided missile launchers and laser guidance systems, and in January 2024, the SBU revealed a variant of the Sea Baby equipped with six thermobaric launchers based on the RPV-16 design. ^{[6] [7] [8]}

Operational history

On July 17, 2023, two Sea Baby USVs struck the Crimean Bridge, resulting in damage to the abutment and bridge span. ^{[4] [9]}

On September 14, 2023, the SBU claimed that it struck Russian corvette Samum with a Sea Baby USV, ^[10] with a video later surfacing that shows the ship being towed with a noticeable angle of list. ^[11]

In October 2023, Russian patrol ship Pavel Derzhavin was damaged by a Sea Baby attack. ^{[4] [12]} Later in December 2023, the reconnaissance and hydrographic ship Vladimir Kozitsky was also struck by a Sea Baby USV. ^{[4] [13]}

See also

• MAGURA V5 - USV developed for use by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR)
• Marichka - Ukrainian autonomous underwater vehicle

Notes

References