Media: Ukrainian drone boats armed with “air-to-air” missiles

On the night of May 6, a group of Ukrainian drone boats attempted to launch an attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. They numbered 5 boats.

Most of them were destroyed by the Russian army. Russian Telegram channels published a video clip showing the destruction of a Ukrainian drone boat by a Ka-27 helicopter of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Ukrainian naval forces had previously attacked Russian warships near the island of Crimea. But this time it was equipped with air-to-air missiles. The Fighterbomber Telegram channel reported that one boat carried two such missiles, and even fired a missile in an attempt to hit the Russian helicopter. But the attempt failed.

These drone boats were equipped with "R-73" missiles, which entered service in the Soviet Air Force in 1983, and were intended for close air combat. These missiles were in the possession of the "MiG-29" fighter.

It is noteworthy that the Ukrainian army began equipping its naval drones with air defense means last January, and the head of Ukrainian Military Intelligence Budanov announced at the time that the Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drones could carry means capable of destroying land, sea and air targets. He added that marine drones could turn into unmanned submarines for a period after they dive into the depths of the sea.