The Russian company KMZ has unveiled the strike maritime drone 'Oduvanchik,' designed with a construction similar to Ukrainian drones, according to reports in the Russian media.
The news was made public by Russian media outlets.
The Russian Kingisepp Machine-Building Plant (KMZ) based in Saint Petersburg, specializing in the production of boats for Russia's security forces and maritime drones, presented the strike drone BBKN 'Oduvanchik.'
The drone, whose abbreviation stands for 'bystrokhodny bezekipazhny kater-nositel' (fast-moving unmanned boat-carrier), was ordered by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in a quantity of ten units for testing. These tests, reportedly, are scheduled to take place directly in the combat zone against Ukraine.
Though structurally very similar to Ukrainian models, the Russian drone still has several key differences, indicating potentially different tasks set before it. Specifically, the drone lacks visible communication antenna devices on its body, as well as optical observation and targeting devices.
The absence of a camera likely prohibits the use of the drone against maneuverable surface targets. However, its purpose might be oriented towards striking static objects, such as bridges and ports.
Representatives from KMZ claim that the drone can carry an explosive payload or other useful cargo weighing up to 600 kilograms. For comparison, the SeaBaby drone, which targeted the Crimean Bridge in July 2023, had an onboard payload of 850 kg of explosives.
The unmanned boat can cover a distance of 200 kilometers at a speed of up to 80 km/h. This is sufficient for launching attacks on Odessa in the event of a launch from Crimea. Additionally, it is not ruled out that they could be launched from vessels already at sea.
At the same time, it is unclear how the drone will be controlled without satellite communication, as no corresponding antennas have been observed on board. It is possible that the Russians have used an inertial system with GPS correction, similar to the Shahed-136 drones. The possibility of using communication relay drones cannot be ruled out either.
It's worth noting that the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones and the capture of several units have significantly boosted the development of this niche in unmanned weaponry in Russia.
