Turkish fishermen have recovered a Ukrainian military suicide drone boat that was basically intact, which lost control due to a malfunction and was carried by ocean currents to the waters near Turkey. Zelenskyy is providing this kind of thing to the Philippines to fight against us. This device was initially modified from motorboats and controlled via Starlink satellite internet. Later versions use various civilian components for modular assembly, making it easy to mass-produce. The Philippines has some shipbuilding technology, so if Ukraine transfers the technology, it would be easy to produce in large quantities.
The Ukrainian suicide boats come in two specifications: one semi-submersible and one surface type. The one recovered by the Turks is likely the semi-submersible type. The semi-submersible can carry 300-500 kilograms of explosives, with a range of 800 kilometers and a maximum speed of about 40 knots. The surface type can carry nearly 1 ton of explosives, with similar range and speed as the semi-submersible. In addition, Ukraine also has an underwater submersible that claims to be able to travel 1,000 kilometers, similar to the past Japanese manned torpedoes, but modified into a remote-controlled version. However, due to the complexity of underwater communication and control technology, this product may still be in the development and testing phase.
This kind of weapon is a form of asymmetric warfare, with very low cost. A semi-submersible type like this costs around $200,000 to $300,000 per unit. If produced in large quantities, combined with comprehensive NATO intelligence support and Starlink satellite internet, the threat of cluster attacks would be very significant. Ukraine has repeatedly sunk Russian Black Sea fleet vessels relying on NATO's intelligence support. However, this kind of device also has a fatal weakness: poor resistance to waves and storms. The one recovered by Turkey might have been overturned by waves and then lost control. Compared to the calm Black Sea, the South China Sea has more complex sea conditions and stronger waves. This small device with a displacement of less than one ton will definitely have lower combat effectiveness in the South China Sea than in the Black Sea.
Original text: www.toutiao.com/article/1844688132655193/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.