Unique New Drone Boat Strikes Russian Navy With FPV Drones

[@Syndr1]

Hi H.i, 2 video's in a week. Now you're just spoiling us.

[@war-painter]

Wow, the Ukrainian Navy is impressive. The future is happening before our eyes, thank you for keeping us informed of these developments. 🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇦Love your low key, understated delivery, I’m a big fan.

[@gary7vn]

When do you leave for the front?

[@owen-trombone]

@@gary7vn not everyone can go to the front 🤷‍♂️

[@MaxStevenson-ih5ji]

@@owen-trombone the front for thee, but not for me, how convenient d

[@owen-trombone]

@@MaxStevenson-ih5ji so you’re saying the only way to support one’s side is to fight on the front? That’s the only option?

[@glennmorrissey5309]

Always great having your analysis Mr Sutton.

[@CapnDan57]

Thanks again, Mr. Sutton. A few glitches with the audio this time 'round, but all's well.

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Sorry about that

[@bremnersghost948]

Combined Arms Drone Fleets, now that is a very scary thought!

[@Bottlekiller]

The more informal tone and all is perfectly okay, but the mic that cuts out ever so often is a problem imho. Not necessarily the quality of the mic overall, but the fact that parts of sentences simply get lost. Otherwhise a good video. Thanks.

[@Manbemanbe]

I agree with this. I think, for this type of video, the audio quality only matters if it’s affecting comprehension. H.I. could buy a much better microphone for probably less than $30 pounds.

[@restitvtororbis5330]

I'm honestly surprised how far ahead the Navy drones are in capability compared to the SBU and GUR. I'm not surprised the navy has more capable systems than intelligence services, but the ability to drop mines/depth charges AND function as a mothership carrying 4+ FPV drones is a substantial improvement.

[@sugandesenuds6663]

probably because the Navy can focus their resources on only USV while GUR and SBU got more responsibilities

[@_John_P]

The way of thinking and knowledge is different.

[@howardsimpson489]

Your oblique reference to infinite regression in the Ukraine war with drone turtles was appreciated.

[@waltthomas-s2d]

Hello: FLAT-Earthers: What supports the earth question...TURTLES! Consider this: the disc-like, flat earth, balances on the top, the smallest, turtle. Earth's weight increases, as "populution" increases,-Malthus effect-, and applies a "crushing" pressure to the SMALLEST" turtle's carapace. When that collapses, the combined weight will eventually do the same with the next turtle etc. causing a domino effect until a balance is achieved between the destructive load and the strenght of the bigger turtle' carapace. It is "turtles all the way down" isn't it, FLAT-EARTHER? By the way, what nearby body gives the gravity to accelerate the mass to cause the pressure in the first place? Reductum ad absurdum, stipes! Don't all go at the same time to same the beach at the edge of your disc! Spinning plates can tip over! LOL

[@steadmanuhlich6734]

TO HI. Thanks for sharing your expertise, and your outstanding graphics/illustrations.

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Thank you kindly!

[@felixcat9318]

I had read that the Russian Helicopter sent to engage the Ukrainian USV did actually sustain damage from the USV machine gun, and that two Crew Members were wounded. The Helicopter immediately broke off the engagement and returned to base. The maching gun (especially a .50 calibre, firing Explosive/Incendiary Rauffos Rounds, or Armour Piercing, HE, or Incendiary Rounds) would certainly give the approaching boat crew good reason to go someplace else. Likewise a Kamikaze Drone bearing an explosively formed penetrator RPG Warhead Whilst the USV described is by necessity larger and more complex, its unequalled capabilities and weapons deployment still make it the most viable. Thank you for this excellent video.

[@FelixMeister]

Obligatory: "I heard you like drones. So we put drones in your drones so you can drone while you drone"

[@jtjames79]

We have only begun to drone. Just wait until drones are doing saturation attacks.

[@vaclav_fejt]

Yo dawg. (For completeness sake)

[@harrismagnum04]

as someone who ben building industrial drone s for 10 years of all types, this is the most informed video I.ve seen

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

thank you

[@mrkeogh]

The FPV drone capability is a game-changer when you consider that the USV can reverse. The aerial drones can scout out gaps in defences that the USV then exploits. The minelaying capability is VERY interesting...

[@lobstereleven4610]

MSPaint black belt 😂

[@MauriceBiermans]

Hanging up blankets and using a cheap usb plugin microphone will make the sunken audio float again :)

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

submerged is more discrete

[@dougle03]

Love your videos, but your microphone is letting you down a little. Keeps going muffled occasionally. Deffo worth investigating it or getting a replacement. Thanks

[@arbelico2]

Greetings from Spain. That type of drone with a MAVERICK missile would be very dangerous.

[@leeellis3903]

Or just use a maverick missile.

[@arbelico2]

@@leeellis3903 Missiles need a transport and launch platform.

[@gawkthimm6030]

I have wondered if something like a stinger anti-air missile launcher could be made with some "rotational" aiming mount, to fit on a dedicated "support" drone boat, one that might trail behind the "attack drones" and provide some limited air cover and act as a communications relay..

[@overmax992]

Great video and analysis as usual but I noticed that the sound quality of your voice is not so great lately, maybe ask Santa a new micro so we can continue to enjoy later videos in 2025.

[@SteveStevens-sp7ly]

informative video, i much apreciate that you are not adding music and sound effects to your videos. i surgest you get all your notes together and in order before making unscripted videos. i subscribed 'cos i like your style, new content, simple and informative. keep it up.

[@pistonburner6448]

I've been waiting for these to be equipped with MANPADS for over a year...

[@B.D.E.]

Manpads are a lot more difficult. You need stability, control, and the ability to stay still long enough to acquire a lock. Factors that are not available to these drones. You could still do it, but it probably wouldn't be worth it.

[@jebise1126]

they had some MRLS on them. but i guess it was not all that good since they didnt show them around all that much

[@riskinhos]

you can keep waiting. never going to happen. Man-portable air-defense systems hence MAN. there's already drones even equipped with air to air missiles. and there's automated air defense systems that don't require human intervention. manpads? not gonna happen. you need a different system not designed specifically to be fired by humans. adapting a manpad would be more expensive than other systems that don't require humans

[@riskinhos]

@@B.D.E. stability control and staying long enough to acquire a lock are the least of the problems. you have dozens of examples of stabilised guns that can be fired remotely that need a lot more stability than a manpad and they exist since many decades ago. so no. that's not why it's difficult. it's just because it makes no sense and there's already air defense systems that can be carried by drones. manpads are made for humans

[@chukkie0001]

They already did with R-73 missiles. They are air to air missiles, but already used in several other conflicts(Yugo war and Yemen) used as SAM. Now also franken sam'ed sa-8 launchers.

[@mattheide2775]

I believe the drone technology advancement will be the straw that broke Russia's resolve. Its effective use has shifted the paradigm of ground warfare now. Thank you for the video.

[@williamlloyd3769]

Wonder if Taiwan is taking notes on all these Ukrainian naval drones. Besides the model’s shown, who knows what other features future drones will include? Taiwan strait could be a very deadly space. PS - StarLink is not a viable control link due to EW and other factors

[@imipak23]

And yet there's enough C2 bandwidth for full duplex real-time FPV (aerial) drone control, plus the camera(s) on the USV. Hard to imagine other comes systems that could deal with the application - bandwidth, reliability (few/no dropouts), range, and form factor of the surface vessel. Presumably there is / was EW on the rigs themselves, thought its demonstrably ineffective. I'm not qualified to draw conclusions, but there'll be some fascinating books and papers on all this at some point in the future.

[@SuperFunkmachine]

@@imipak23The FPVs are likey on fiber optic to avoid the local EW jamming.

[@imipak23]

@@SuperFunkmachine That would make sense. They still need to get data to and fro between the mothership and controllers, presumably on shore.

[@Brettmlyons]

So many uploads! So little time 😂 thanks for all the effort buddy you do such good work.

[@danielmartin7838]

Yours are among the video I look most forward to

[@MrGodOfBeer]

Hey Sutton, amazing video as always thank you for sharing. It's just that the microphone situation is pretty bad on this one, some short parts where you sound like under water. Or is the mic not the culprit?

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

I'm probably just out of my depth

[@stevea9604]

Those impact fuses are interesting due to getting hit by waves and not detonating…

[@Nefelibatacomingthrough]

Two videos in a week! Christmas came just a bit early! :) Thank you for your expertise, it is VERY much appreciated. Greetings from Finland and Merry Christmas, Mr Sutton! Positive adjectives for the Algo: incredible, awesome, outstanding, wonderful, beautiful, exiting, sharp, strong, bright, clean, staggering and the best defense analyst in this great platform. Everyone should know this channel. No BS, just the meat, bones, bone marrow and the very healthy fats.. :) Keep doing what you are doing. edit: Your microphone brings some (amateurish?) authenticity being so low quality but same time some words are difficult to understand specially for someone who doesn't speak English as their mother tongue (only very few words at least for me). Please consider getting a new one.. :) Although I feel a responsibility to get you one for Christmas because I have got so much free high quality content for free from you, to be honest.

[@NuclearFalcon146]

I would not be surprised if they eventually come out with a full blown unmanned PT boat. I mean something with some kind of 20mm to 30mm class autocannon, torpedoes and/or Neptune missiles, and possibly even with short range IR SAMs with the usual bow ram warhead as a last resort. Likely it too would carry a few FPV drones. Obviously this would be on the expensive end.

[@lifedeluxe4all]

Ukraine already did put R-73 missiles on SeaBaby drones. I don't know how successful they were though, the only video I've seen was of the destruction of said drone.

[@Spams-the-lasers]

the inflation in USV scale might mean losing the stealth advantage though

[@NuclearFalcon146]

@@Spams-the-lasers They can still be made lower profile than standard PT boats as there is no need for a crew. Crew accommodation takes up a lot of space even if you cram them in there tight. Even then manned PT boats are still not the easiest things to spot and arming these things with torpedoes/missiles gives some stand-off range.

[@marin_real_estate_photography]

Thank you for the video. It is always nice to have an informative video without a bunch of hype. If there was anyway you can clean up the audio for next time, that would be great.

[@GroovyVideo2]

put strobe lights on drone boat to simulate defensive machine gun fire

[@verstander8713]

would'nt it be like putting a huge red target on yourself ?

[@Nickrioblanco1]

Thank you for a superlative accessment.

[@sbbbrown]

Great work with the sketch!!

[@gafrers]

Interestingas always. Love the details and info. Audio dips a bit in some parts

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Sorry about that

[@NothernNate]

💛 Mad Respect for Ukraine from America!

[@alisioardiona727]

Very impressive. Nice to see you back

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

thanks

[@Leo-yr5jb]

One platform is many different modules. Kamikadze are effective in that they can carry much more explosives from their use will not refuse to use them. I see such types 1 kamikadze 2 The main drone responsible for reconnaissance with FPV can be used to use a generator and a preliminary charging in order to always have eyes in the sky. This will make navigation in the sea in a boat less than the height of the waves is incredibly simpler. 3 Dron Defender with a machine gun and airfields of the Federal Security Service, they have already successfully shot down dozens of helicopters for this year and hundreds, and possibly thousands of large Rosia drones and anti -submarine FPV. 4 drones with air defense missiles in the summer were recorded alone, but since we do not see them there are problems there, but if they solve them, they can hit reactive aircraft.

[@hatac]

The drones and back hanger also means these could have ship to shore functionality to delver sensors, supplies, communication tools and the drones themselves to coastal commandos, deep cover agents and river side frontline units. The next generation of sea power.

[@cwolf8841]

Looking at ww2 naval battles, some vulnerable areas are the bridge and the rudder.

[@johnceglarski9460]

Nice job, good narration. No AI babble speak! You have some original content here. I'm a Ukraine Military fan and I haven't seen this boat anywhere else.

[@MrJustCallMeJames]

I have been saying that this will happen for ages now. Finally a real world implementation. Kudos. Now just waiting for the flying motherdrones, with laser painter and the drone munitions targeting the laser, with waypoint capability. Instead of having only FPV control. Air to air battery swaps also a thing that would emerge. But first charging station drones should emerge before that. Wouldn't actually be surprised if these naval motherdroneships would have charging capabilities already.

[@emmabird9745]

Fascinating. Thanks.

[@ned900]

Great vid thank you!

[@phillee2814]

The explosive charge in the bow could be replaced by an additional fuel tank for missions where the USV is expected to return. If that were done, the impact fuses might not be removed, as they could serve as a link to a self-destruction mechanism. The USV operates as a relay or repeater for the signals controlling its FPV squadron, as they are limited by weight on the size of their transceiver.

[@deltavee2]

Subscribed. Good stuff but the British habit of dropping the voice volume to a mutter at the end of sentences is rendering part of the narration difficult to make out or inaudible. That one nit pick aside, most enjoyable content! Cheers from Canada and Merry Christmas to you 🎄

[@rybuds47]

What a gnarly little machine.

[@raxneff]

Do you have some video about who you are or how you become such professional at understanding (naval) warfare?

[@Nefelibatacomingthrough]

"Who is HI Sutton" and "A day of the life of hobbyist defense analyst" would be videos that I would love to see.. xD

[@Rokaize]

Great video. I think it would be good to do a video on the Russian countermeasures for all these naval drones.

[@UnfollowYourDreams]

The minelaying ability could also be used to overcome nets and other obsacles.

[@BaconGold790]

Wel'p when people ask when the drone carrier carrier first had a combat kill, we can point to this here. Just a few more years and this will be upscaled to full L-USVs and get some real Ace Combat level stuff.

[@grahamkearnon6682]

HI, audio crap mate,good vid as always!

[@buzzman4860]

Thanks

[@GreatgoatonFire]

These seems really good when you pair them with Sea Babies. The carrier can act as a spotter and provide distraction during the final attack run while the boom-boats close in.

[@torontobro]

Nice review…check sound

[@plop386]

as a sidenote also. fpv drone are DIY with tunable firmware and possibility of going full manual controls. whereas cinematic drone, commercial one. use proprietary firmware ( dji ) and dont have a full manual control mode

[@Lintary]

Santa sea drones, capable of deploying elves and presents. Perfect timing for the time of year I say.

[@bc-guy852]

Great idea for the name for this 'new platform'. I like the 'bringing gifts' concept.

[@chipChipperson202]

The camera icon for the Thermal is from a FLIR M series camera and is gyro stabilized.

[@wtfbuddy1]

Outstanding technology showcased after successful deployment against long distance enemy over/on water. Cheers

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@notme9816]

Interesting as always Mr. Sutton.

[@Wheres_Bobby]

Very interesting.

[@lukeamato423]

Brilliant

[@Statueshop297]

Thanks so much for the information. It’s really fascinating

[@gromittm2372]

Sutton: Christmas holidays and not much to do for official desk job, let’s roll some videos!

[@foreverpinkf.7603]

Excellent work, as always. Thank you.

[@AvocadoAfficionado]

Babe wake up, new H.I. Sutton just dropped. Didn't you watch that yesterday? He posted **again** **happy noises**

[@Ticklestein]

That video you mention. I saw it. It hits differently. 😳

[@aaronstreeval3910]

Could you make a instagram page in addition to your X account. Your work is super informative and I’d rather not get X if i don’t have to lol

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

bsky.app/profile/covertshores.bsky.social www.hisutton.com

[@IanFiebigwi]

They did it!

[@turkthrust5172]

thank you for the information, great web site as well

[@user-ep1ks2pq5r]

🔴 audio back to very good. Thank you.

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

Good to hear! I don't always have a decent mic to hand, and this one is patchy. Definitely not a pro, just sharing

[@Nefelibatacomingthrough]

@@HISuttonCovertShores As someone who doesn't speak English as their mother tongue some words are hard to understand when the mic is cheap but other than that yeah your mics have been good enough.. :) Would a high quality mic transform this channel to a too pro one? :P Hopefully Santa brings you just the right quality mic that keeps the feeling but every word is clear!! :)

[@imipak23]

+1 for the pterry reference

[@keefymckeefface8330]

Turtles all the way down! Any Diskworld reference is welcome. The Colour of Magic? Doubly so.:)

[@stevea9604]

Imagine putting Hellfires and AIM-9 s on that drone ship…

[@Notyou5556]

The drop down hanger in the back? Its a jet ski motor with a drop down reverse.

[@joshuarespecki1883]

I'm waiting for the sea baby harpoon carrier. Add in some fixed wing drones for recon, sneak up on ship, enter target route into missile, fire, hangout as video relay link for drones and then head home. Drones can Kamikaze themselves into any opportune Target when they are low on fuel.

[@nekomakhea9440]

If they ram something without deploying the mines first, then the mines would also double as a booster charge to enhance the amount of explosive power in the drone too

[@craig2809]

*insert Xzibit meme* Yo Dog ! I heard you like drones ! So now ya drone has a drone !!! 🤪

[@freestylebagua]

@10:35 It is capable of sinking an underwater submarine, I believe the charge is command detonated with a tether and has a sensor for getting below a shallow thermal boundary and is primarily for targeting submarines trying to escape an attack by diving. It may explode at the same time as the front bomb if bumper triggered and undeployed, for more boom on the surface.

[@fjdkfdfjdf33]

scripts are getting better and better!

[@Joewho99]

Excellent interesting video thanks for sharing .

[@GeneralSyb]

I just saw a video from Joe Mcdonald where he talked about FPV drone carrying drone boats being tested in Amsterdam and his unit probably receiving one.

[@kj1483]

2:24 Video footage showed a multi-pronged attack. The USVs launched small quadrotor drones (UAVs) which could reconnoitre the target. The UAVs were then used to directly attack the platforms, targeting the Russian sensors directly. Another struck the Russian team installing them. Then, using another unique capability, the drones are seen reversing up to the platforms. Although the next stage is not shown, the logical explanation is that this allowed them to drop an explosive charge directly next to the platform’s supports. This was possibly a time delayed, or depth delayed, charge. Since the USV was already pointing away from the platforms it would be able to accelerate away to safety. Ukrainian Navy new type of USV adds small aerial drones, and possibly mines, to the capabilities of USVs. It simultaneously carries a ramming charge in the bow, and a hangar in the stern which is likely for laying mines. Amidships there is a covered hangar amidships with at least four quadrotor drones (UAVs). These are FPV type, meaning that pilot wears goggles. Once launched the drones are controlled by pilots ashore, likely sitting in the same bunker as the USV’s pilot. The new USV appears larger than previously seen ‘Magura‘ and ‘Sea Baby‘ designs, which allows it to deploy more systems. ...from naval news

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

check the author of that article

[@kj1483]

@@HISuttonCovertShores Oh yeah... has your own name, Mr Sutton, way down at footer of article

[@jakeaurod]

Audio keeps getting muffled.

[@AsbestosMuffins]

a more sophisticated country could also just stick a single AA rocket on the carrier so if you want to use a helicopter to take it out, it can fight back pretty easily. you're left using something like a ship or a fixed winf aircraft

[@CaptainBanjo-fw4fq]

How many mines would it need to be able to carry to be useful?

[@HISuttonCovertShores]

1 would be useful. Depends greatly on what size/type and where they are laid.

[@CaptainBanjo-fw4fq]

@ interesting. I figured you’d need a few because you ideally want the enemy to think they’re there and in a quantity to warrant efforts to find and remove. I guess if it were a a limpet-type or released in bottleneck like a channel or port entrance you don’t need a lot.

[@mortarboss]

Some audio issues here. Sp,e words are very hard to hear. Otherwise a most interesting video.

[@jcadag8789]

Hi! Do you know a battery upgrade for that Nitro and My Nitro that is an AN515-57. What I mean is a bigger battery replacement for the stock battery may be 80 whr to 90 whr or just bigger than the stock 57whr. there is more space to the left since the SSD cady is not occuppied. Maybe there is a longer bigger battery that will fill up the SSD space.

[@ptonpc]

I feel sorry for the dolphins. I imagine with greater complexity, cost and utility, there is going to be increased pressure to make sure the USV comes back.

[@Smooth_As_Silkk]

Whoa Buddy, slow down are you ok? 3 videos in 10 days!? You're sick aren't you. Tell us!! Whats happened?!! Dont leave us!

[@Victor-xm]

Im sure in future iterations they could use these USV's to launch lancet type drones with ai target tracking

[@gordonmac3616]

Would be great to incorporate Sting Ray lightweight torpedoes (range 11 km) and or Martlet LMM for self defence ( range 8km) against aircraft.

[@waltthomas-s2d]

As a retired electronic technician I really appreciate your analysis; it makes me feel less than a technical dinosaur subject to the "Future Shock" of exponentially improving technology. Thanks. What is next? Underwater-drones, steered by fibre-glass communications with FPV, or A.I., more stealthily, to seek out vulnerable portions, e.g. rudder, propeller. Placing limpet mines...without risking frogmen... This would enable the capture of ship and cargo, or a sure demise of such a target! I'm amazed the Somali pirates aren't using these things yet! If only these resources, human and financial, could be put to use for peaceful pursuits! (Alvin Toffler, author of: Future Shock, The third wave. R.I.P..) Season's greetings 2024-2025 to all of good will.

[@giacintoboccia9386]

Do you think that they'll consider deploying mini torpedoes on these drones? Sure, a Black Scorpion has a very small charge, but the USV could carry a few of them.

[@stevea9604]

I’m surprised they haven’t developed smaller torpedos aboard these drones…

[@matthewhastings9158]

Please do a video on LM Manta Ray

[@americafirst3738]

Thry are most likely carrying the fpv FIBER OPTIC drones to counter the EW

[@bigsarge2085]

Interesting!

[@chiseldrock]

I heard the CBby gun was a 27 mm anti armor heap round that might be danger to a helo

[@bremnersghost948]

Hope the RN is building something like the Seababy that carries Jackal Drones, Twin Martlet launchers on 4 Drones would cause a major headache for enemy Aircraft or Ships, Tungsten Darts moving at mach3/4 hitting just above the waterline would make a nice mess on most any Warship never mind Civilian!

[@buckstarchaser2376]

9:37 The boat reversed because the person driving it is not a boat captain, but a kid that's thinking about how he would park a car... Also, if he'd pulled in using a broad arc or pulled up alongside, he would carry momentum and an easily predictable vector that would draw attention to the same location, prompting a self-correction of one or more frightened targets to begin pulling 360 security. Being occluded by the platform's structure is part of the move, but coming in at a straight angle will send many running in fear it being a weapon, if not all over the place trying to find it. ...see, if the defenders are looking down frantically for the perceived enemy, then they are not looking up at the real threats that are vulnerable while slowly trying to get the correct position. If you've ever flown one of those things, you know that trying to hold it still is the hardest, most concentration-demanding part. Planning and rehearsal for the mission will have absolutely involved wind gusts and whatever, so if it seems over the top to do all that distraction stuff, well, distraction is 11/10ths of any mission, and they didn't know what the weather was going to be like on that day. Nobody just woke up and did this... except for the targets. Oh, and the thing that isn't an overly complicated mine deploying ramp and hanger is actually just the jet buckets needing space and clear water to the rear in order to function in reverse... also, likely a spray/wake hider and entanglement protection/correction stuff is going to be in that mess. The thermal signature for that boat is also minimal, so if it doesn't have water rushing past a small heat plate, more contact with the coolant (the seawater) will be needed to keep from overheating with the soaked heat flow suddenly having a tiny exit path. Assuming they use a tunnel-type jet or positionable thruster tube, those are likely going to be the normal heat exchangers, simply because they are optimal. When parked and idling, there's not enough sea water moving past those plates to get rid of the engine heat, which is why the second picture is autoranged for a much warmer picture, and the fiberglass over the engine is so much warmer that it makes the cold edges of the boat look like pontoons. This is to say that there's an engine there in the back of the boat, and its heat is soaking the insulation all the way up to the skin of the craft. Not only would putting a massive object on the extreme rear-most part of a tiny boat be on the "never do" list for any designer, but the pictures that you admitted don't really show anything, are simply not showing you what you want to see. The mission - you said - was to attack the radio protection devices on the rig. One does this so they can launch a large homing attack, not so they can lay one small mine out of a cramped engine compartment of a boat that was clearly only big enough to manage small drones.

[@crestdazoltral7705]

Could any of the known USV types deploy an accustic torpedo off the back once inside the no escape zone of a valuable enough target?