Media: UK develops uncrewed maritime vessels for Ukraine's naval defence

The UK is reportedly assisting in the development of two uncrewed maritime vessels (UMVs) to support Ukrainian forces, which have demonstrated significant success against Russian naval assets in the Black Sea by using UMVs as one-way attack munitions.

This was disclosed in a pair of UK parliamentary written responses on February 4, 2025, in which UK Minister for Defence Procurement, Maria Eagle, referenced the “Wasp” and “Snapper” UMV programs, Caliber.Az reports referring to Naval Technology.

These projects were also mentioned by UK Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, at an ADS Annual Dinner on January 28, 2025.

Eagle stated that both the Wasp and Snapper UMVs are "new uncrewed maritime systems" that were "rapidly developed" specifically to aid Ukraine. She added, “The system is currently undergoing final testing, and further details will be set out in due course."

When reached for additional details, the UK Ministry of Defence declined to provide further information to Naval Technology regarding the development of the Wasp and Snapper UMVs.

The announcement of these new UK-Ukrainian defence capabilities follows earlier reports, including the revelation — and subsequent silence — of the Gravehawk air defence system being supplied to Kyiv.

Just as uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) have shifted the dynamics of land warfare, UMVs are expected to transform naval operations. GlobalData's analysis suggests that both surface and subsurface UMVs will play a crucial role in reshaping naval warfare tactics.

Ukraine’s use of naval drones has already altered the course of the conflict at sea. In March 2024, Ukrainian forces managed to force the Russian Black Sea Fleet to retreat, after damaging or destroying over a third of its vessels. The Russian Navy has been severely impacted by these drone operations, prompting military leaders worldwide to reconsider the role of such platforms in modern naval conflicts.

From February 2022 to June 2024, Ukraine’s naval defence technology, particularly its use of UMVs, proved instrumental, with 26 Russian Navy vessels damaged or destroyed in the Black Sea. In particular, GlobalData highlights the Magura V5, a small unmanned surface vehicle (USV) weighing under 1,000kg and capable of carrying up to 200kg of explosives. This drone has a range of 800km and can reach speeds of up to 78km/h.

Major-General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, previously claimed that domestically produced drones were pivotal in Russia’s retreat to the port of Novorossiysk, underscoring the significant role of unmanned systems in reshaping the naval warfare landscape.

By Tamilla Hasanova