Media: Russian Pacific submarine base deploys anti-drone netting

New satellite imagery indicates that Russia has introduced expanded anti-drone protections at its strategic submarine base in Rybachiy on the Kamchatka Peninsula, suggesting heightened concern over potential long-range or surprise attacks on critical naval assets.

The images, shared by satellite intelligence provider Vantor, show two Russian nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines covered in fine netting while docked at the facility. The base lies approximately 7,400 kilometres from Ukraine, far beyond the range of most battlefield drones used in the ongoing war, Naval News reports. 

The vessels are believed to include submarines from the Borei-class submarine family, including both an earlier Project 955 variant and a newer Project 955A (Borei-A) model.

The Rybachiy base is Russia’s primary strategic submarine facility in the Pacific, housing vessels that form a key component of the country’s nuclear deterrent. Each Borei-class submarine is capable of carrying 16 RSM-56 Bulava intercontinental ballistic missiles, according to open-source military data.

The newly observed netting appears to fully cover the submarines while in port, marking a more extensive application of anti-drone protection than previously seen on Russian naval assets. Similar defensive measures have already been deployed on some surface vessels in other Russian fleets, particularly in the Black Sea, where drone threats have been more frequent.

Military analysts say such measures are typically designed to disrupt small unmanned aerial systems, including FPV drones capable of carrying explosive payloads. However, experts have also noted that these protections may present operational challenges, particularly in emergencies or severe weather conditions.

The development comes amid increased concern within Russian military circles over the vulnerability of high-value assets to asymmetric drone warfare. While the distance between Ukraine and Kamchatka makes a direct strike unlikely, analysts suggest that evolving drone capabilities and long-range sabotage operations have prompted a broader reassessment of naval security.

The introduction of full-coverage netting on submarines at Rybachiy is the first known instance of such a system being applied at scale to submerged ballistic missile platforms, highlighting the expanding influence of drone warfare on naval defence planning.

By Sabina Mammadli