Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) has unveiled a next-generation naval weapon, an upgraded Sea Baby unmanned surface vessel capable of striking anywhere in the Black Sea, redefining the region’s battlefield dynamics. Demonstrated to international media at a covert location, the enhanced drone boasts a 1,500-kilometer range—up from 1,000 km—and can carry a formidable 2,000 kg payload, doubling its destructive potential.

Equipped with artificial intelligence for autonomous friend-or-foe targeting, the Sea Baby now features advanced variants, including one with a multiple-rocket launcher for long-range strikes and another with a stabilized machine-gun turret for close defense. Small aerial attack drones can also be launched from its deck, while multilayered self-destruct systems prevent capture by Russian forces. SBU Brigadier General Ivan Lukashevych hailed the craft as a pioneer in modern naval warfare, evolving from a single-use kamikaze boat into a reusable, multipurpose platform that amplifies Ukraine’s strategic options.

The Sea Baby has already proven its mettle, credited with damaging or sinking 11 Russian warships, including frigates and missile carriers, forcing Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet to retreat from Crimea’s Sevastopol to Novorossiysk, hundreds of kilometers away. High-profile strikes include repeated attacks on the Kerch Bridge, targeting its underwater supports to disrupt Russian military logistics. Operated from mobile command vans with multi-screen interfaces, the drones rely on tightly coordinated crews, with one operator, callsign “Scout,” emphasizing the critical role of team cohesion.

Also Read: Trump Postpones Budapest Summit With Putin Citing Lack of Progress on Ukraine

Partially funded by public donations through Ukraine’s United24 initiative, the Sea Baby program reflects a blend of grassroots support and state coordination. Lukashevych underscored its efficiency, noting that rocket-equipped models allow strikes beyond enemy range, maximizing the impact of donor contributions. The demonstration, kept secret for security reasons, showcased Ukraine’s technological leap in asymmetric warfare amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.

As the war surpasses 1,000 days, the Sea Baby’s upgrades bolster Ukraine’s efforts to secure Black Sea shipping lanes, vital for global grain exports. However, Russia’s countermeasures, such as electronic jamming and submarine patrols, pose ongoing challenges. With President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeking Western aid to scale production, the drone’s advancements signal Kyiv’s resolve to counter Moscow’s naval dominance through innovation. The Sea Baby’s emergence as a versatile, AI-driven weapon could tilt the balance, but its ultimate impact hinges on Ukraine’s ability to outpace Russian adaptations in this high-stakes maritime chess game.

Also Read: Trump’s U-Turn: Zelensky Betrayed as Putin Sways U.S. Policy in Ukraine Crisis