May 21, 2024

UAVs, USVs, AUVs: Black Sea Submarine Mystery: Part 2

In Part 1 of this long thought exercise, I discussed whether diesel submarines (middle size or mini) would make sense for Ukraine, Bulgaria and Romania in the Black Sea.

The Russian-Ukraine War has seen the rapid development of drone warfare on both sides - everything from tiny FPS UAV drones delivering grenades to larger drones conducting strategic attacks on infrastructure.

The current situation in the Black Sea: Ukraine, a country without warships bigger than minesweepers, has pinned the major fleet units of the vaunted Russian Black Sea fleet to Sevastopol (where they will be further destroyed by Storm Shadow missiles) and Novorossiysk. This is primarily due to the historic use of suicide Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), alongside strategic strikes by ATACMS small ballistic missiles, Storm Shadow cruise missiles and Ukrainian Special Forces units. These have also been degrading Russian naval facilities, ground-based air defences, airfields and essential infrastructure in Crimea and Russian territories bordering the Black Sea. 



The main priority for Ukraine now (May 2024) in the Black Sea is to restrict the remaining Black Sea Fleet (BSF) units to Novorossiysk Naval Base. Ukraine has proved that it can loop UAVs and USVs around the Crimean peninsula to attack Novorossiyk - a one-way journey of about 700km, in the face of heavy Russian GPS and satellite communication jamming. 


This long distance does mean that these USVs have to pass relatively close to Crimea, which makes them vulnerable to interdiction from Russian aviation operating from Crimea. This is why some Ukrainian USVs are now carrying missiles eg. by modifying AA-11 Archer AAMs to lock onto airborne targets, even while the USV is moving.


The BSF’s three remaining Improved Kilo subs are relatively new, while the older Kilo Alrosa is likely un-operational and cannot leave Sevastopol. If the Improved Kilos were to ‘break out’ of Novorossiyk - snort transit to somewhere to the North of Yalta in Crimea, then switch to batteries, they could stay underwater, evade Ukraine/NATO surveillance and attack the vital shipping lanes from Ukraine's Port of Odesa.



AUVs aka XLUUVs


The one type of unmanned vehicle that we have not seen, YET, are Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) - see H I Sutton's
comprehensive list of AUVS and XLUUVs (eXtra Large Underwater Unmanned Vehicles) that are now in prototype or in production. It is my opinion that it is only a matter of time before Ukraine will have an AUV in operation - if they don’t have one in the water already.
 

Ukraine recently started Project FURY, a "hackathon" (intense information gathering) to rapidly develop AUVs that will probably have loitering persistence, and AI ability to detect and attack surface and subsurface targets, alone or as a swarm. These AUVs should be hard for Russian ASW helicopters and submarines to detect, as they can hide at extreme depths, ‘pop up’ at intervals to get GPS fixes and instructions, lay mines, or even attack targets with torpedoes or ASMs.


Ukraine's allies are likely to contribute to Project Fury and would certainly be interested in the real war results.


Image: TKMS/Naval News
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TKMS recently started production of the MUM (modifiable Underwater Mothership) in 2023 - at 25m long, this long-endurance XLUUV could perform a form of submarine barrier patrol. Situated 500km (or more) from its base, MUM might only rise to near the surface to extend a comms antenna, to send an alert when it detects a target and positively identifies that it is an enemy warship (from visual and passive sonar recognition). Once MUM receives an order to attack, it selects the optimal weapon for the environmental conditions and fires. The MUM's modular design enables this XLUUV to swap out modules and it can also be disassembled into containers (see below) for a train or truck ride.


Image: TKMS
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MUM is a big design, and would likely cost around 1/3rd the price of a traditional small SSK, especially as it uses fuel cell AIP.

A cheaper, more viable design (for Ukraine) could be the DRASS Ronda AUV - again spotted by the indomitable H I Sutton (see arrow in the photo below) of the DRASS DS8 Swimmer Delivery Vehicle during a visit by Italian dignitaries to DRASS’ Livorno, Italy, facilities. 

Image: DRASS DS-8 via HI Sutton
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The Ronda AUV is rumoured to be the "Autonomous Attack Submarine" that was mentioned when DRASS signed an MOU with Indonesian shipbuilder PT Republik Palino. According to Sutton, Ronda is an AUV version of the DRASS DS8 swimmer delivery vehicle, a 9-metre, 4-tonne vehicle that can transport 8 combat divers and 1,000kg of equipment 50 nautical miles, with a maximum depth of 80 metres, and a speed of 6.5 knots.




DRASS conducted sea trials of the DS8 in Tuscany in late 2023, as well as a calendar shoot (I kid you not!). See the video below.




An AUV version of the DS8 is quite feasible for a Black Sea nation as the SDV can be built at the DRASS Romania production facilities - thus not infringing on the Montreux Convention, with crew facilities replaced with batteries.  DRASS has recently partnered with Italian company INTECS for AI to “bolster surveillance and performance in the underwater domain” - which could mean that an autonomous system is currently being developed.

Image: DRASS via H I Sutton
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Polish news site ESSA reported in February 2024 that Sweden was sending the new Torpedo 47 SLWT (SAAB Lightweight Torpedo) to Ukraine. The replacement for the 400mm Torpedo 45 that equips Swedish (and Singaporean?) submarines and naval vessels, the Torpedo 47 is a versatile weapon that has a 20km range and can be launched from subs, ships, and helicopters, or over the side of a pier. The Torpedo 47 is a 2.8m long torpedo that should fit into a Ronda AUV. But as the Torpedo 47 does not require torpedo tubes to launch, it can simply be shackled to the outside of a Ronda AUV



Ukraine's use of unmanned drones of all types will continue to be a real war testing ground that is benefitting Ukraine's allies. They are likely assisting Ukraine in developing these drones or gifting them to Ukraine outright.

Update 25 May 2024


Pete has asked for my thoughts on the two Ukraine AUVs that are on HI Suttons's  Overview of Maritime Drones of the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Toloka TLK 150
Images and some details were released by the creators, Ukranian startup Brave1, in May 2023. Brave1 claims it is developing a family of these attack AUVs, with the TLK 150 having a range of 100km carrying a warhead of up to 50kg, and the TLK 1000 has an operational range of 2000km carrying a payload up to 5,000kg.
Graphic: Brave1

There have been zero updates on this AUV project since it was revealed, not even on Brave1's own website and Facebook page, and this company now seems to be focused on FPS, UGV, and UAV development. 

Marichka AUV
Appeared at an arms show in August 2023, followed by one video of the device in water, which was picked up by social media. The video does show a powered device, apparently with a ballast system, and 4 guys riding it, which demonstrates that it can carry at least 400kg.


The video also shows that this prototype is wire-controlled and powered by the RIB following it. So it could be lacking internal systems - such as batteries, navigation, guidance, sensors and communication equipment.

This AUV is the creation of a group called AMMO Ukraine, which has a marketing page sans any details of the project's development or deliverables, but they are happy to accept your donation.

5 comments:

  1. Unrelated:

    It seems there have been some positive developments in relations between the Solomon Islands & Australia:

    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/solomon-islands-tells-australia-it-remains-partner-of-choice/articleshow/110289947.cms

    Maintaining strong ties with the archipelago might be a crucial part of not giving China another space to play in the Pacific.

    ReplyDelete


  2. Hi Shawn

    On the inimitable H I Sutton's website is a large file:

    1. "Guide To Ukraine's Long Range Attack Drones, Fri 26 April 2024, By H I Sutton" at http://www.hisutton.com/Ukraine-OWA-UAVs.html

    "Russia’s use of long range drones, principally the Iranian Shahed type, against Ukraine is well documented. These are termed one-way attack drones (OWA-UAVs), or informally as 'Kamikaze drones'. These are used as part of large scale attacks combined with more expensive cruise missiles. While the Shaheds are valid offensive weapons in their own right, they are being used to stretch Ukrainian air defenses and create better chances for the larger cruise missiles.

    Ukraine too is increasingly using this type of drone. Like Russia, Ukraine can use OWA-UAVs as part of larger packages to improve the success of cruise missiles.But Ukraine also uses them for very long ranged attacks on strategic targets deep inside Russia. This has several purposes. The targets themselves, such as oil storage sites and airfields, are of strategic importance. These attacks also serve to make the Russian population more aware of the war. And, it stretches Russian air defenses forcing some to be deployed far away from the front lines.

    This article will focus on the Ukrainian OWA-UAVs which can strike deep into Russia. It relies on public information; the usual caveats apply." see much more.

    2. Also there is a UKAINE developed AUV http://www.hisutton.com/World-XLUUVs.html:

    "The Marichka (МАРІЧКА) is a large autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) developed by AMMO Ukraine.

    Among the many large AUV projects around the world, it is possibly the first born directly from wartime needs. The project is separate to the Toloka family of AUVs which are also being developed in Ukraine. The batteries and explosives are carried in the main sealed steel pressure hull.

    According to the manufacturer the system is intended for anti-ship, anti-bridge, intelligence gathering and transport. Range is reportedly 1,000km. Unit cost is stated as 16 million UAH, equivalent to 433k USD."

    Cheers Pete

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Gessler at 5/22/2024 2:59 AM

    Looks like these "positive developments in relations between the Solomon Islands & Australia:

    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/solomon-islands-tells-australia-it-remains-partner-of-choice/articleshow/110289947.cms "

    Are due to the Solomons having a "newly elected Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele" and "Australia has provided extra budget support of A$7 million ($4.66 million),

    and the Solomons can send more citizens to work in Australia under an expanded labour migration program.

    Cheers Pete

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Pete at 5/23/2024 12:49

    I actually ignored both Ukraine UUVs - the Tolok Tk-150 is probably vapourware, and while there's a video of the Marichka being tested - it did not show any autonomy and the 'prototype' looked wire-controlled.


    Tolok TK-150 - no 'live' version has been since HI Sutton spotted that one image in May 2023 - https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/05/innovative-submarine-drone-is-ukraines-new-weapon-against-russian-navy/

    The manufacturer's website and Facebook, https://brave1.gov.ua/en and https://www.facebook.com/Brave1ua have no mention of this UUV/weapon, and they seem more focused on UGV, UAV design and production.

    Marichka AUV
    Revealed in August 2023. Video of four guys riding on it, and implies it has ballast tanks for diving, but no sensors/comms were visible https://youtu.be/9lf-YDqtbQo?si=MeV9Dqwu8jRujKF7


    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Shawn at 5/25/2024 2:05 AM

    Probably more than half large AUVs/XLUUVs are vapourware or prototypes with more than 5 years before they are operational (eg. GHOST SHARKs).

    Even when they are operational this may not be announced because secrecy heightens their undetectability.

    The rapid evolution 2022-23 depicted at https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/05/innovative-submarine-drone-is-ukraines-new-weapon-against-russian-navy/ reflects how wartime emergencies speed weapon development. An older example was the UK in WW2 progressing from biplanes torpedo bombers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairey_Swordfish to jetfighters.

    In our acronym "rich" world "UGV" being Unmanned Ground Vehicle.

    The Marichka AUV https://youtu.be/9lf-YDqtbQo?si=MeV9Dqwu8jRujKF7 looks very much like Ukraine has a loitering torpedo or mobile smart mine in the works.

    Cheers Pete

    ReplyDelete

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