Ukrainian naval drones become a new factor in deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region – Bloomberg
Kyiv • UNN
Bloomberg reports that the US tested Ukrainian Magura drones in the Philippines. Countries in the region, including China, are ramping up production of naval drones.
Sea drones, whose effectiveness Ukraine demonstrated during the war with Russia, are increasingly being integrated into the military strategies of Indo-Pacific countries. The US, China, Japan, Taiwan, and other states are ramping up the development of such systems, viewing them as a key element of future naval conflicts, Bloomberg reports, writes UNN.
Details
As the agency notes, recently in the Philippines, the US military tested Ukrainian Magura sea drones for the first time in the Indo-Pacific region. During the exercises, the drones struck a decommissioned target ship, demonstrating capabilities that had previously been confirmed during attacks on ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Countries in the region are actively ramping up production
According to experts, sea drones can perform a wide range of tasks – from reconnaissance and mine-laying to strikes on ships and launching missiles. At the same time, their cost of several hundred thousand dollars is significantly lower than the price of modern torpedoes or large warships, making such systems particularly attractive for countries with limited defense resources.
Taiwan is already developing its own Kaui-Chi unmanned boats and plans to purchase 1,320 such units for about $888 million. Japan this year allocated about $600 million for maritime unmanned systems, and the US continues to increase their deployment in the Philippines.
China is also investing in an unmanned fleet
According to Bloomberg, China is making the largest investments in maritime drones. Beijing has already unveiled several new unmanned surface and underwater platforms and is also testing swarms of sea drones for reconnaissance and combat missions.
At the same time, the Ukrainian manufacturer of the Magura is negotiating with Indo-Pacific countries on the supply of its sea drones and is considering the possibility of establishing production facilities in the region. According to the company, the successful use of the Magura against the Russian fleet has significantly increased global interest in this technology.