Advancements in Russian Naval Drones and Their Role in the Armed Forces

by Dmytro Shumlyan’skyi , MILITARNYI

After the success of Ukrainian maritime unmanned vehicles (in official Ukrainian terminology: MBUA — Maritime Uncrewed Vehicles) in the Black Sea — which drove the Russian fleet into the port of Novorossiysk and even forced some vessels to withdraw to the Caspian Sea — Russia has, quite naturally, initiated efforts to replicate Ukraine’s approach.

Russian developers have likely benefited from captured Ukrainian drones that were disabled for various reasons.

Despite only sporadic and largely ineffectual previous use of Russian unmanned boat drones against Ukraine, the Russian Federation is now vigorously integrating unmanned maritime assets into its naval forces.

This article reviews known Russian surface drone developments and examines the institutionalization of these new weapons.

Russian Developments

Pre-2022 Russian Unmanned Boats

The foundation of Russia’s surface naval drone programs prior to the invasion relied heavily on products from foreign companies, notably the French ECA Group. Russian minehunter ships of the Alexandrit class (project 12700) were outfitted with ECA Group’s Inspector Mk drones.

Despite the annexation of Crimea, the war in Donbas, and sanctions against Russia, ECA Group continued supplying Inspector Mk maritime drones to Russia; new Inspector Mk2 units were received as late as 2015, 2017, and 2018.

By 2017, Russia began localizing production of the Inspector Mk2 and Seascan Mk2 unmanned mine defense submarines for its Navy. Shortly afterwards, Kronstadt introduced the “Iskatel” unmanned boat, closely resembling the Inspector Mk2 and intended for mine countermeasures, not strike missions.

Post-2022 Developments

Russia’s development of kamikaze maritime drones became apparent in December 2023, when the Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ) unveiled the strike USV “Oduvanchik,” featuring a design similar to Ukrainian drones. The Ministry of Defense ordered ten units for trials.

The drone can reportedly carry up to 600kg of payload and cover 200km at speeds up to 80km/h, but it lacks visible communications antennas and optoelectronics, indicating use against stationary targets via inertial navigation corrected by GNSS signals.

At the “Fleet-2024” naval show in June 2024, three new unmanned boats were introduced: the “Orkan,” “BEC-1000,” and “Vizir.” The heavy USV “Vizir” measures 7m by 2.5m, reaches up to 45 knots (83.4km/h), and has a range of 270 miles (500km). 

It is designed for adverse conditions and can be fitted with up to eight missile launchers, hydroacoustic sensors for mapping and anti-submarine tasks, and is aimed at patrol and neutralizing enemy strike drones.

Less information is available about “Orkan” and “BEC-1000.”

“Orkan” primarily conducts hydrographic missions and features domestic sonar equipment, with a 500km range and 40-knot speed. The “BEC-1000” carries up to 1 tonne, is 7m long, and supports various payloads.

A persistent issue for all Russian drones is reliable satellite communications capable of transmitting video. Starlink isn’t available, and only China’s SpaceSail system is a non-Western alternative, expected to begin deployment in 2025. In the short term, this forces reliance on radio channels and potentially a network of surface and aerial relays to extend operational range.

An attempt to address this was seen in the “Murena-300S” unmanned boat from Tula’s Center for Unmanned Systems, presented in August 2024 and actively developed thereafter.

“Murena-300S” is a versatile platform for reconnaissance, patrol, fire missions, mine action, and minelaying. It is suitable for sea states up to Beaufort 4 and riverine use, with a range of up to 500km, a cruise speed of 45 knots, and a payload capacity of 500kg.

It can be fitted with combat modules, electronic reconnaissance equipment, or explosives. A notable feature reported by Naval News was the presence of a Starlink satellite antenna, likely acquired through illicit means.

Another promising project is the “Katran” unmanned boat, developed with support from the Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies. Multiple pre-production samples exist, and one was delivered to the Black Sea Fleet in March for trials.

“Katran” can be reconfigured as a trimaran for greater stability or used as a kamikaze drone. Integration of FPV drones is underway, aiming to deploy dozens of airborne kamikaze units within a 5–10km operational radius from the carrier, or up to 100–200km if acting as a relay.

Integration into Russian Navy Structure

In April 2025, Russia announced the creation of a new interdepartmental working group—the Technical Council for development of unmanned maritime systems—chaired by Admiral Alexander Moiseev, Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. The council includes representatives from the presidential administration, military industry, and other stakeholders, aiming to accelerate the deployment of advanced naval technologies.

Key flagship systems nearing serial production are the “Katran” unmanned boat and the “Shpak VMF” FPV drone, slated for ship- and boat-based launches. The “Vizir” drone is also expected to begin deliveries in 2025.

Efforts are underway to systematize development, certification, and series production of unmanned maritime technologies, with targets for technology selection and testing set for August and October 2025, respectively—a prerequisite for state procurement and armament.

In May 2025, Russia’s Navy began forming specialized regiments for unmanned maritime systems. These will feature a broad spectrum of robotic equipment—air, ground, unmanned boats, and underwater vehicles. 

Their main tasks include reconnaissance, strikes, ship protection, counter-drone operations, and mine clearance. At least five such regiments are planned: three in European Russia and two with the Pacific Fleet. Similar units may be created within the Caspian and Dnipro flotillas.

In July 2025, Russia inaugurated a unified manufacturing center for maritime drones at the Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant in St. Petersburg. Significant investment has gone into facilities producing hulls, engines, and propulsion systems, particularly waterjets for strike drones—totaling 2.7billion rubles ($33million) in 2024.

On July 26, during the large-scale “July Storm” naval exercises, Russian forces publicly demonstrated the successful destruction of a target by a kamikaze maritime drone. This marks Russia’s doctrinal shift toward autonomous maritime combat, parallels Ukraine’s tactics, and signals an evolution in Russian naval strategy.

Conclusion: Despite initial lags, Russia has not only established reasonably effective defenses against Ukrainian maritime drones but is now investing heavily in integrating this new class of weaponry into its military. Ukrainian developers, meanwhile, are working on coastal defense systems against maritime drones, and with ongoing support, Ukraine’s fleet continues to expand. The true test of Ukraine’s anti-boat defenses is still to come.

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This publication has been produced with the support of the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of EED. Responsibility for the information and views expressed in this publication lies entirely with the authors.