The Ukrainian company announced a small unmanned boat model, specializing in tasks in narrow areas such as rivers and streams.
Hard Cat, a manufacturer of unmanned equipment (drone) headquartered in the Ukrainian capital Kiev, announced on January 8 that it has developed a small unmanned boat model called “Black Widow 2”, with ability to reconnaissance and attack targets operating on the river.
Each has a length of one meter, a maximum speed of 40 km/h, a communication range of about 10 km and can provide real-time information to the operating crew.
The Black Widow 2 prototype appeared at a conference in Kiev in October 2024. The manufacturer said this boat model has been successfully tested in the rear and is being tested in practice at two Ukrainian brigades, but did not reveal the specific location.
Black Widow 2 canoe in the photo posted on January 8. Image: Hard Cat
“Fighting on the water is quite special and brings its own challenges, so building a small boat like this could be very useful,” Hard Cat said.
An anonymous Hard Cat official revealed that the research process began in December 2023 at the request of the Ukrainian military, in order to deal with the fleet of motorboats used by Russia for personnel rotation, resupply and transportation tasks. reconnaissance on the Dnieper River.
John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at the US-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), commented that Ukraine will mainly use Black Widow 2 boats on the Dnieper River, not deploying them at sea. . “This type of boat will be most effective in a defensive role, for example attacking small Russian boats carrying soldiers or supplies,” he said.
Location of the Dnieper River. Graphics: RYV
Basil Germond, an expert on international security at Lancaster University in the UK, also has a similar opinion.
“It should be understood that Russia operates not only large warships, but also many small boats serving the tactical level, especially at the mouth of the Dnieper River and other rivers. Small unmanned boats can participate participate in campaigns against the above weapons,” he stated.