Underwater-Concealed Ukrainian Drone Capable of Launching Surprise Attacks from Depths
In a recent video, Ukrainian drone expert Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov showcases a fascinating quadcopter drone that can perform an unusual trick: it lands on water, sinks, and then resurfaces, still operational. While this might seem like a harmless toy, as the drone world is teeming with unexpected potential, this could be more than meets the eye.
The Hidden Danger of Submersible Drones
This drone appears to be a modern iteration of a recurring fascination in the aviation and robotics realm: submersible aircraft or 'flying submarines.' These gadgets originate from as early as the 1920s but seldom made it beyond the design stage. Some, like the Reid RF-1, were actually built and tested, but the resulting performance left much to be desired.
However, the idea remained tantalizing, resulting in far-fetched ideas like the U-Plan, Saab's proposed submersible jet fighter that could hide in fjords. Regrettably, the design never made it past the conceptual stage.
A Practical Solution
With advancements in multirotor technology, submersible drones represent a more practical alternative, albeit not significantly enhancing their performance. In theory, it should be possible to fly this style of drone to a specific location, dive underwater, and operate in a submarine mode. Though, due to water's higher density, their swimming speed plummets, and battery life significantly reduces as a result.
Beginning in the 2010s, multiple submersible multicopters emerged, such as Prof. Javier Diez's Naviator from Rutgers University. With a grant from the Office of Naval Research, Diez's team aimed to create a mine countermeasures drone. This project, unfortunately, does not seem to have progressed beyond experimentation.
From China, videos showcase similar concepts, providing hints into the development of this technology. Unlike some inferior models, one model appears to have a promising flight-time of 6.5 minutes. Another Chinese model, the Spry, is portrayed as a waterproof and buoyant drone capable of submerging.
The US Navy's Efforts
The US Navy exhibited better results in their exploration of submersible drones, such as the Flimmer and Flying Sea Glider in 2017. Yet, the prototypes' performance did not result in significant development beyond research stages.
The technology shares some similarities with drones controlled by fiber-optic cables, providing further proof of feasibility, but failing to find substantive applications on the battlefield.
The Rise of the Submersible Shrike
Numerous drone experts, including Flash Beskrestnov, have hinted that Ukraine might be developing submersible drones for covert operations. The latest video showcases the Shrike, a well-established Ukrainian FPV model, now in a Special Edition, which can hide beneath the water's surface. This new iteration of the Shrike could potentially revolutionize military tactics, providing a new level of ambush potential for Ukraine's forces.
Flash has suggested that this "submersible Shrike" is capable of hiding beneath the water's surface for an extended period, making it an enigmatic threat to Russian forces along various coastal areas.
A Growing Threat
The ongoing development and deployment of submersible drones like the Shrike raise serious concerns for military operations world-wide. While the initial costs related to making drones watertight may be relatively low, submersible drones, similar to fiber FPVs, could proliferate rapidly, making it challenging to counter such tactics without sophisticated counter-measures such as hunter-killer submersible FPVs.
In the context of rising tensions between various nations, these developments emphasize the importance of monitoring technological advancements and investing in strategic capabilities to maintain a competitive edge in the age of ever-evolving drone technology.
- The submersible drone showcased by Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov can be categorized as a type of 'flying submarine', a concept that has intrigued aviation and robotics enthusiasts since the 1920s.
- The advancements in multirotor technology have made submersible drones like the Shrike a more practical alternative, although their swimming speed and battery life are significantly affected by water's higher density.
- The development of amphibious fpv drones, such as the Shrike, could pose a new challenge for military operations, as they can operate both in the air and underwater, making them difficult to detect and counter.
- With improvements in waterproof technology and battery life, maybe future 'submersible drones' will become a common sight in both civilian and military applications, necessitating the development of sophisticated countermeasures.
