Ukrainian commander says the way NATO’s trying to develop naval drones makes him uneasy

• NATO forces have been purchasing more and more seaplanes after seeing Ukraine use them successfully against Russia.

• However, a Ukrainian commander said that the way these countries were developing themselves disturbed him.

• The commander attributed Ukraine’s successful products to its extensive combat experience.

UKRAINE — A commander in Kiev’s military intelligence agency told Business Insider that NATO militaries are increasingly developing new seaplane fleets after observing their success in Ukraine, but some of their designs make him feel “uneasy.”

Ukraine used navy drones for demolition Russia’s Black Sea Fleetdamaging and destroying warships and forcing Moscow to shift the bulk of operations from the occupied Crimean peninsula to the other side of the region.

NATO countries are watching this closely asymmetrical campaign It is run by Ukraine and they have set out to equip their forces with maritime drones that can produce similar effects alongside conventional warships in combat.

Ninth, one of Ukraine’s commanders, said, “Of course, there is a common NATO security doctrine.” GUR intelligence agency a person who supervises a maritime unmanned aerial vehicle unit. For security reasons, he asked to be identified by his call sign.

“What satisfies me is seeing other countries adopting elements of Ukraine’s experience and practical lessons learned in the war,” he said in a recent interview.

“Many are now revising their doctrine to recognize the necessity of equipping their fleets with naval drones,” he said. “However, as someone who has worked directly with these systems in combat, I often find myself uneasy when I learn of the technical requirements that some countries impose on their shipbuilders and defense companies.”

Ukrainian marine drones They have many years of operational experience and their designs are constantly modified to reflect the changing security situation in the Black Sea.

at the beginning Large-scale invasion of RussiaUkrainian naval drones are built to reach the target quickly and explode on impact. They are now armed with machine guns, surface-to-air missiles and other weapons. more dynamic platforms.

NATO maritime drones they are not built on the same kind of war experiences. European countries used them for maritime security patrols. The US Navy has often done the same, using them for surveillance in the Middle East; But earlier this month, one of them made a discovery. first-of-its-kind rescue mission After Iran shot down an American helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.

NATO adds maritime unmanned aerial vehicles to maritime exercisesBut complex combat operations are very different.

Ninth declined to specify exactly where NATO’s maritime drones were lacking, but said the problems were mainly related to design, system behavior and electronics, among other features.

“Many European shipyards tasked with developing these systems lack this experience,” the GUR commander said. “They respond to specifications provided by NATO countries, but they do not fully understand the realities of wartime conditions because they have never encountered them firsthand.”

NATO does not face the same situation wartime pressures Kyiv does this; But Ukrainian officials and conflict experts routinely say the Western military alliance must act. prepare more urgently for a modern battlefield.

These are not warships, but designing a seaplane is a challenge. They need to be able to operate in rough sea conditions, meaning they need correct weight distributions and structural calculations, Ninth said. And body structure and materials aren’t the only things to consider.

Ninth said the “real value” of a seaplane is in its electronics; Ships must be able to communicate. Boats must have certain features in case operators lose their signals. autonomous functions, Abilities such as navigating on autopilot, using artificial intelligence to avoid obstacles, and making independent decisions about target selection.

The GUR commander attributed Ukraine’s seaplane prowess to the combat experience it has accumulated over the years. Russian warships and ports on the Black Sea.

“We must never forget that one working day for our engineers and programmers is equal to about 10 working days for specialists in countries not at war,” Ninth said. he said. “When we make changes, we don’t validate them hypothetically. We validate them in battle. Within hours.”

Shootings don’t fit into typical office schedules; Rather, it was a 24-hour event, Ninth said. “We understand the enemy’s tactics and constantly adapt our own methods accordingly,” he added. “Whenever we detect a weakness, we take immediate action to eliminate it.”

“This,” he said, “is the speed at which wartime innovation happens.”

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