Russia Starts Preparing Far East to Repel Drone Attacks

The Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet has practiced repelling attacks by sea and aerial drones as part of exercises focused on defending key naval bases in Primorsky and Kamchatka.

Interfax reported on this.

During the July Storm drills, the fleet’s anti-sabotage units, in coordination with the FSS Border Service of Russia, carried out measures to “repel attacks by unmanned boats and aerial drones” using high-speed boats.

As part of the exercise, a simulated enemy attack was conducted near the entrance to the Eastern Bosphorus Strait, located close to Vladivostok. Patrol boats were tasked with detecting the incursion in the strategic area.

According to the Pacific Fleet’s press service, Mi-8 and Ka-27PS helicopters carrying counter-terrorism units were quickly deployed from nearby airfields. The crews successfully neutralized an unmanned boat using small arms fire.

Footage from the drills also shows strike FPV drones launched from a Russian naval vessel intercepting surface targets, showcasing the fleet’s evolving drone warfare capabilities.

During the drills, the Gremyashchiy corvette also launched anti-submarine missiles at a training target in the Pacific Ocean, while coastal defense units practiced deploying Bastion anti-ship missile systems.

It’s worth noting that Russia’s Ministry of Defense has announced the launch of the July Storm exercise, involving naval forces operating in the waters of the Pacific and Arctic Oceans, as well as the Baltic and Caspian Seas.

The exercises involve more than 15,000 military personnel, 150 ships and support vessels, 120 aircraft, 10 coastal missile systems, and approximately 950 units of military equipment.

The maneuvers are being conducted under the command of Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, and will continue until July 27.

The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the purpose of the exercises is to test the readiness of naval formations for unconventional operational tasks, including the use of precision long-range weapons, unmanned systems, and the latest armaments.

In the open sea, ship crews will practice deploying to combat zones, anti-submarine operations, protecting bases and shipping routes, as well as fighting off attacks from unmanned boats, UAVs, and enemy aviation.