National Interest: “Sebaby” is a new Ukrainian weapon that destroys the Russian Navy | policy

In light of the continuing Russian-Ukrainian war, Kiev unveiled a newly developed version of its sea drone known as “Sea Baby” – meaning “Sea Baby” – which can operate anywhere in the Black Sea and carry up to two tons of explosives, according to a news report published by the American magazine The National Interest.

This development comes as part of Ukraine’s efforts to enhance its own capabilities in military manufacturing, after more than 3 years of heavy reliance on Western support.

The magazine’s national security affairs writer, Maya Karlin, described the success of Ukrainian efforts in the field of naval aircraft and the development of the new “sea child” model as a “smart strategic” step, as Russian naval capabilities continue to decline.

It quoted the Ukrainian Security Service as saying that the “Sea Child” drone in its new version can now cover a distance of 1,500 kilometers, after its range did not exceed a thousand kilometers, which gives it the ability to carry out long-range strikes against naval targets and vital Russian infrastructure, including ships and bridges.

She added that the upgraded version “can accommodate up to two thousand kilograms of payload,” noting that the new version was presented early this month to journalists at a secret location, where two boats equipped with missile launchers and cannons were seen during a practical test.

This step – according to the American magazine – comes within the framework of an escalating naval campaign that began in 2023, when Ukraine used for the first time the two drone boats “Marichka” and “Magura V5” in specific attacks targeting Russian ships such as the destroyer “Sergei Kotov.”

Ukrainian estimates indicate that about a third of the Russian Black Sea fleet, including landing ships, corvettes (small ships) and patrol vessels, have been disabled or sunk since the outbreak of war on February 24, 2022.

Sea Child shows how Ukraine has turned indigenous technology into an effective strategic tool that equalizes the naval balance of power with Russia, and demonstrates that innovation may be Kiev’s most prominent weapon in a war that transcends the boundaries of the traditional field.