BEK Sea Baby: Ukrainian long-range strike naval drone

The Sea Baby unmanned marine vehicle (UV) is a multi-purpose surface platform used for surveillance, patrol, and strike missions in coastal and open waters. This system is designed to operate in environments that require a combination of speed, range, and payload flexibility. The vehicle serves as a loitering vessel capable of conducting reconnaissance or taking active action upon operator command. Its design ensures a low landing over the water, making it difficult to detect by radar and visual means. It can carry explosives for single-use missions or install other modules, such as launchers or sensors. Control is performed remotely via secure channels, including satellite communications, with autonomous guidance elements in the final stages. The platform is designed for the specific conditions of the Black Sea, including wave action and potential data transmission interference.

Manufacturing is carried out using readily available materials, allowing for a monthly production rate of dozens of units. The drone is integrated into naval systems, where it complements traditional means for expanding coverage. Its applications range from intelligence gathering to target engagement, while minimizing preparation time. The system is positioned for missions where maneuverability and adaptability to changing conditions are essential.

History of creation

Development of the Sea Baby began in July 2022 within the Security Service of Ukraine, when Brigadier General Ivan Lukashevich proposed the concept of using unmanned surface vessels for operations in the seas. Initially, the project relied on collaboration with Ukrainian Navy specialists and private companies working on early attack boat models. This was driven by the need to create a means of engaging targets at sea without risking crews. By the end of the summer of that year, the SBU decided to develop the platform independently to ensure control over the process and expedite implementation. The primary focus was on creating a compact device with a long cruising range, distinguishing it from more maneuverable counterparts designed for other agencies. The first prototypes were assembled in the fall of 2022, with hydrodynamics and communications systems tested in simulated combat conditions. By December, the President of Ukraine announced the formation of the world's first fleet of maritime drones, with the Sea Baby as a key element.

Ground trials took place in the winter of 2022, where they assessed the hull's load-bearing capacity and the compatibility of its engines with water jets. In the spring of 2023, they moved on to sea trials in the Black Sea, evaluating its performance in waves up to two meters high and navigational accuracy. This allowed for adjustments to the propulsion system to balance speed and fuel consumption. In July 2023, the device was used in an operation for the first time, confirming its readiness and providing data for further refinement. Production began in early 2023 at the SBU's own facilities, with partial funding through the United24 platform, which raised funds for an initial production run of several dozen units. By the end of the year, the platform had evolved from a simple strike vehicle to a multi-role variant capable of carrying missiles or mines. In January 2024, a version with six thermobaric launchers based on the RPV-16 was unveiled, expanding its mission range.

In the summer of 2024, a modernization was carried out, adding redundant communications systems to evade jamming and external fuel tanks to increase range. This coincided with an increase in production to fifty units per month, with European investment in components. In December of that year, a variant with machine guns for self-defense was introduced, which was tested in skirmishes with helicopters. By February 2025, Sea Baby was integrated into group operations, with several vehicles working together to saturate an area. In the fall of 2025, on October 22, the SBU demonstrated a new generation with a range of over 1500 kilometers and a payload of up to 2000 kilograms, equipped with enhanced engines and navigation. These changes were based on operator feedback and experience in the Black Sea. By November 2025, production had stabilized, with plans for export through controlled channels. The project developed in parallel with other systems, but maintained a focus on modularity, where the basic platform can be adapted to new threats without a complete overhaul. The overall approach emphasized the use of domestic materials, with the addition of imported sensors for reliability.

Design and specifications

The Sea Baby features a compact V-shaped hull made of composite materials, providing a low profile of just 0,6 meters and reducing radar signature. The vessel is six meters long, two meters wide, and has a draft of approximately forty centimeters, allowing it to maneuver in shallow water and utilize waves for camouflage. The hull is divided into sealed compartments to protect the electronics from flooding, with hatches for quick access to batteries and sensors. The materials are resistant to saltwater corrosion, extending its service life.

Propulsion comes from two 200-horsepower internal engines, with a total of 400 horsepower, powering waterjets for silent operation and a minimal thermal signature. Cruising speed is 40 kilometers per hour, with the ability to accelerate to 90 kilometers per hour for short periods. The bow is equipped with cameras for day and night vision, with real-time video transmission via a mesh network or satellite. Navigation includes GNSS for positioning, inertial sensors for autonomy in obstructed areas, and visual recognition for targeting.

The payload is housed in the central compartment and ranges from 850 to 2000 kilograms depending on the version. In strike configurations, this includes explosives for kamikaze missions, while reconnaissance configurations carry hydroacoustic sensors or patrol radars. For defense, the drone can be equipped with two R-73 missiles with a range of up to 40 kilometers or two MN-103 Manta mines with acoustic and magnetic fuses. Control is performed from a laptop-sized ground station, where the operator makes course corrections via a redundant channel. The drone operates in a swarm, with one drone relaying a signal to others, extending its range.

Transport is simplified by a collapsible design, where the body fits into a truck container, and assembly takes about an hour. The updated version includes stabilizers for waves up to three meters and protection against electromagnetic pulses. The software allows for remote algorithm updates, with elements of artificial intelligence for target recognition. Its loaded weight does not exceed one ton, facilitating launch from boats or piers. Tests have confirmed operation in temperatures ranging from minus ten to plus thirty degrees Celsius.

Specifications:

• Range: 1000 km
• Maximum range: 1500 km
• Warhead Weight: 850 kg
• Maximum payload: 2000 kg
• Cruising speed: 40 km / h
• Maximum speed: 90 km / h
• Working time: up to 3 days
• Length: 6 m
• Width: 2 m
• Draft: 0,4 m
• Weight: less than 1000 kg
• Price: 250-300 thousand dollars
• Engine: two 200 hp engines, water jets
• Navigation: GNSS, inertial, visual

Combat application

Sea Baby entered service in mid-2023, when the initial batches were used for training launches in the Black Sea. Operators practiced target approaches, focusing on group launches to complicate detection. The first combat use occurred in July 2023, when three drones damaged a reconnaissance vessel hundreds of kilometers offshore, demonstrating their ability to navigate open waters. By December of that year, the drone was used against a hydrographic survey ship, where its range allowed for a surprise approach.

SeaBaby drone attack video

In February 2024, several units were deployed in an operation near Donuzlav Bay, where an explosion damaged a landing craft. Similar operations were conducted against another Ropucha-class ship, using a swarm to deliver multiple hits. By March, the system was included in patrols, combined with aerial reconnaissance to refine coordinates. Its low profile allowed it to hide behind the waves, making interception difficult. In the summer of 2024, Sea Baby was used in combined strikes against bases in the Kerch Strait, where decoys served as distractions while the main units carried out the attacks. In August, an attack on a patrol ship was recorded, where the 1000-kilometer range played a role.

By September, drones were being used to lay mines, with sensors scanning the waters without risking personnel. In May 2025, a version armed with R-73 missiles attacked two fighters off Cape Tarkhankut, where thermal imaging detected their approach. In June, a similar tactic was used against helicopters. A swarm mode with decoys allowed for penetration of defenses, with up to six units launched simultaneously.

SeaBaby drone attack video

By November 2025, Sea Babies were participating in fleet security operations, patrolling approaches to ports. The operator group reported damage to eighteen vessels during this period, including missile carriers and landing ships. Launches were conducted from mobile platforms, with satellite guidance for night missions. Combined with other systems, the drone provided a multi-layered attack, with reconnaissance preceding the strike. In November 2025, the drones were used against tankers belonging to a shadow fleet in international waters off Turkey, expanding the operational area. Losses were offset by production, and tactics evolved to the use of false trajectories. Performance data remained limited, but operator assessments confirmed the drone's role in water control.

Sea Baby has taken its place in the arsenal as a platform for medium-range missions, taking into account operational requirements. The system supports surveillance and intervention missions, integrating into common systems. Further development is focused on enhancing autonomy and weapon options. Production supports the availability of units for current needs, with a focus on adapting to changing conditions.