Russian Northern Fleet Deploys Anti-Drone Protective Netting Over Submarines
Summary
A photograph leaked from the Nakhimov Naval School's website in Murmansk revealed two Russian submarines covered in protective netting, which Russian military officials hastily removed but not before it spread widely across social media. The netting is intended to defend against Ukrainian FPV (First Person View) quadcopter drones rather than larger long-range drones carrying significant explosive payloads, as submarine hulls are generally resistant to standard FPV attacks. Russian naval commanders grew particularly alarmed following Ukraine's "Spiderweb" operation, in which drone-filled cargo crates were covertly transported by unwitting Russian truck drivers to positions near airbases, successfully damaging much of Russia's heavy bomber fleet. This fear prompted concerns that Ukraine could execute a similar covert operation targeting Russian nuclear-armed submarines (SSBNs) stationed in both the Northern Fleet near the Kola Peninsula and the Far East Fleet near Vladivostok. Despite submarine hulls being 20-40mm thick, Russian commanders remain deeply anxious about Ukraine discovering and exploiting unknown vulnerabilities through their increasingly creative drone tactics.
Key Takeaways
- 1. A leaked photo from a Russian naval school exposed submarines equipped with anti-drone netting, highlighting the failure of Russian military censorship in the social media age
- 2. The protective netting is specifically designed to counter short-range Ukrainian FPV quadcopter drones rather than larger explosive-carrying long-range drones
- 3. Ukraine's innovative "Spiderweb" operation, which devastated Russia's heavy bomber fleet using remotely triggered cargo crates, has significantly heightened Russian fears about similar attacks on their nuclear submarines
- 4. All Russian SSBNs, including those based in the Far East near Vladivostok, are now considered vulnerable to potential Ukrainian drone attacks
- 5. Russian naval personnel particularly fear Ukraine's demonstrated creativity and ingenuity in developing unconventional drone attack strategies that could exploit previously unknown submarine vulnerabilities