Russia Developing Naval Drone Carrier for Kamikaze UAV Deployment

Russian engineers are working to integrate FPV drones into a prototype naval reconnaissance and strike platform known as Katran.

This was reported by Russian media, citing the Center for Unmanned Systems and Technologies.

The effort involves adapting the serially produced 10-inch Skvorec FPV drone for operations from a naval drone carrier.

The modified drones are expected to perform strike and reconnaissance missions within a 5–10 km radius from the host vessel.

The Katran unmanned boat, currently undergoing trials with Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, will serve as the launch platform.

Developers claim it can carry and deploy dozens of FPV drones at ranges of 100–200 km. After launch, the vessel would act as a control signal relay.

Development of the Katran-based system is reportedly conducted in coordination with the Russian Navy and can receive state funding.

Russian Katran

According to the developers, there are currently several pre-production samples of the Katran. One of them was delivered to the Black Sea Fleet in early March, which is to conduct a series of tests.

The Katran platform has a modular design, with an option to convert it into a trimaran for greater stability when carrying additional payloads.

The vessel’s hull is constructed from aluminum-magnesium alloy to reduce weight. The trimaran configuration enables it to carry various weapons, while the standard monohull version is more maneuverable — an advantage in kamikaze applications.

One of the main technical challenges facing Russian developers is maintaining a reliable communication link with the drone. Unlike Ukrainian platforms, Russian systems lack access to Starlink satellite communications and instead rely on conventional radio systems and signal repeaters.

In contrast, Ukrainian forces are already integrating naval drones into coastal defense operations. Brigadier General Ivan Lukashevych, a senior official in Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), said earlier this year that the country was building a multi-component maritime defense system that included armed surface drones capable of patrolling and intercepting threats.

According to Lukashevych, the defense system can be multi-component, one of the elements of which would be specialized surface drones that would patrol, search for, and destroy threats using machine gun weapons integrated on board.

“Currently, you see several models of machine gun drones that can go out in a five-point storm with a range of 1,700 kilometers. This means that they will be able to guard the Black Sea for several days and provide protection against similar maritime drones,” he said.

Such surface systems are equipped with search and reconnaissance systems. Together with aviation drones, which are also placed on board, they are capable of conducting patrols.

He also noted that the Ukrainian Defense Forces were already patrolling the Black Sea with those means: “Which is actually what we do. We do it quietly, not publicly.”