Ukrainian Katran drone boat unveiled carrying 27 interceptor drones

The Ukrainian naval drone Katran X1.2 carrying 27 MAC Dead Fly interceptor drones was demonstrated during tests on the Dnipro River.

Source: Welt

Details: According to Welt, the demonstration for foreign journalists took place on the banks of the Dnipro River. The tests featured the Katran X1.2 unmanned boat and MAC Dead Fly interceptor drones – developed through cooperation between the Ukrainian company MAC HUB and the naval unit Black Sea Legion.

Welt reports that the Katran X1.2 is a multi-purpose naval drone capable of functioning as a kamikaze craft, carrying two short-range R-73 missiles and various types of aerial drones. The outlet says the drone is nine metres long, equipped with a 350-horsepower engine and has a range of up to 1,600 km.

This time, the naval drone carried 27 MAC Dead Fly interceptors equipped with built-in artificial intelligence. According to the report, they can independently detect targets and reach speeds of up to 380 km/h – "fast enough to destroy Shahed drones".

Welt notes that Russian Shahed drones often use Ukrainian rivers as routes for attacks on civilian infrastructure in Kyiv and other cities.

Engineers are also reportedly working on increasing the interceptors' speed to 450 km/h at the military's request.

"The combination of unmanned vessels and interceptor drones is a technological and tactical innovation in the history of modern warfare. It adds another layer to Ukraine's multi-level air defence while simultaneously opening new possibilities in naval warfare. First, drones attack enemy radar systems, after which unmanned boats can strike oil platforms and naval vessels," Welt wrote.

The outlet added that both the naval drone and the interceptors were operated from a mobile command post onshore via the MAC Mission Control system, which integrates combat platforms into a single network and coordinates operations in real time.

All MAC Construct solutions are developed jointly with the Black Sea Legion, which is part of the active operations unit FERRATA of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

According to Welt, the Black Sea Legion had previously officially confirmed attacks on Russian oil and gas platforms in the Black Sea, while the Katran X1.2 was already used during operations last autumn.

Background: Earlier, it was reported that Ukraine and Greece had agreed on joint production of naval drones. Ukraine already operates naval drones such as MAGURA V5, Mamai, Sea Baby and Katran.

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