The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine just released video footage showing one of its Bayraktar TB2 unmanned combat aerial vehicles (UCAV) striking two Raptor assault boats of the Russian Navy. They were struck in Zmiinyi Island (Snake Island), located roughly 70 nautical miles south of Odessa. Released on May 2, the video shows likely the first time missiles launched from the drones actually sank naval assets. Bayraktar TB2 was alleged to have helped decoy the Russia Naval Black Sea Fleet flagship RFS Moskva air defense system on April 14. The ship was apparently targeted by at least one R-360 Neptune shore-based anti-ship missile launched by Ukrainian forces.
The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. It is manufactured by the Turkish Company Baykar Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret A.?., primarily for the Turkish Armed Forces. The aircraft is monitored and controlled by aircrew in a ground control station, including weapons employment. The development of the UAV has been largely credited to Selçuk Bayraktar, a former MIT graduate student. As a part of its military modernization program, the Armed Forces of Ukraine purchased 12 Bayraktar TB2s in 2019.
The Russian Navy Raptor assult boats were likely destroyed with the MAM-L lightweight guided bomb. Mini Ak?ll? Mühimmat (MAM), meaning “smart micro munition” is a family of laser-guided and/or GPS/INS guided bombs produced by Turkish defence industry manufacturer Roketsan. MAM has been developed for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), light attack aircraft, fighter aircraft and air–ground missions for low-payload-capacity air platforms. MAM can engage both stationary and moving targets with high precision. MAM-L is an armour piercing High Explosive Blast Fragmentation (Thermobaric) variant.
Project 03160 “Raptor” assault boats are being built at the Pella shipyard in the town of Otradnoye, Leningrad Region. Due to the great similarity in appearance, the boats of the project can be confused with the Swedish CB90-class fast assault craft and landing boats of the 02510 BK-16 project, developed by the Kalashnikov concern and manufactured at Rybinsk shipyard. The boats are designed for patrolling, search and rescue operations, and the transfer of troops in the coastal zone of the seas and river estuaries at a maximum distance of up to 160 kilometers (100 mi) from the base. The boats have a crew of 3 people, and a landing capacity of 20 people.
