Magura V5 Sea Drone with R-73 Missiles is Remarkably Straightforward, and Which is the Very best Thing About it (Image)
Yesterday, May perhaps 6th, a movie released by russian invasion forces functioning in Ukraine uncovered a new modification to the Ukrainian Magura V5 naval drone, this 1 was equipped with a simplistic launcher for R-73 air-to-air missile. Now there is a image disclosing more aspects about the design and style of this vessel-primarily based missile procedure.
A photograph of unknown origin circulating in Ukraine’s media reveals the stern of a harmed Magura V5 ashore, its nose dealing with the sea. Sources say it was ruined by the russians. As we can see, the style of the missile rail is rather very simple: a common plane rail launcher was stripped off the hardpoint and stationary preset to the drone’s physique pointing somewhat upward. The focus on acquisition is offered by a camera on a stabilized gimbal with a thermal imaging channel.
Points like the electric power source program feeding the rail launcher and the missiles, pre-launch missile preparations, or goal lock indicator, etc. remain driving the scenes. However, the seen elements convey to that the R-73 was built-in with this naval platform in a extremely pragmatic way.
For a person, inspite of a additional logical way would seem to be to equip the drone with a more compact weapon, like APKWS guided rockets, those require the laser beam pointing at the goal all the whilst the rocket is approaching it, which is tough owing to the waves and rocking motions in the open sea. Powerful procedure would involve a strong (study: high-priced) stabilizer for the laser pointer, tailored for the intense marine atmosphere.
The R-73 missile, on the other hand, has an MK-80 active infrared homing head with an angle of check out 75°, goal designation angle 45°, and concentrate on lock variety of 8–12 kilometers. Apart from, there is a Ukrainian-developed modernized MK-2200 homing head with all these parameters greater and even electronic warfare resistance. In phrases of focus on engagement prospective, the R-73 has improved usability.
R-73 also has no benefit as a trophy, if it finishes up in the arms of the russian armed forces. In contrast to, for instance, the Brimstone – another weapon possibility we regarded viable for an anti-plane missile to set up on a naval drone.
And lastly, a single additional different was to affix a male-portable missile on to the unmanned boat. The trouble, however, is that a Stinger, for instance, with its 2.3-kg warhead are not able to warranty a eliminate on an airborne target, although the 8-kg warhead on R-73 is much more lethal and has a far better chance to take it down. Additionally, the R-73 missile’s homing head might verify additional delicate than the 1 planted inside a portable missile, nest growing their likelihood of locking on the goal at greater distances.
As for the operational range, R-73 should also be exceptional with an believed 8 to 12 km against an average of 5 km for a MANPADS. In reality, even though, every little thing relies upon on the homing head’s ability to lock on the goal. The only evident disadvantage R-73 has is the lifeless zone of 300 meters all over it, which is the least array expected for a profitable hit. In the case of a start from a drone, the minimum operational range is even greater owing to the blind place straight previously mentioned the launcher due to the fact the latter is fastened firmly to the platform.
Overall, certainly, the Ukrainian engineers could have appear up with alternatives to defeat all the hard parts pertaining to each R-73 missiles and its options. Say, make a rotating launcher but that would drastically maximize the fat and necessitate further sensitive sections, effortless to are unsuccessful in the tough atmosphere. Or put in a compact radar to surveil the surroundings but that would require a stronger power source, cumbersome and building the vessel far more conspicuous.
The design and style methods and the weapon Ukrainians chose below made the drone-based anti-aircraft technique as easy as doable nevertheless potentially quite effective if employed for an ambush assault. And the odds are high that this episode featured in the russian video is not the initially one particular.
If we assume the Ukrainian forces have been making use of it for a while, some of the earlier losses in russian naval plane can be defined. Such as the late March 2024 destruction of a fighter jet when it had just taken off from an airfield in the russian-occupied town of Sevastopol, Crimea.