Ukraine claims that its Bayraktar drone destroyed two Russian high-speed patrol boats on May 2.
A 17-second video shows the moment drones hit two Russian Raptor fast-attack craft. The Russian patrol boats were destroyed in the Black Sea near Snake Island, a strategic and symbolic location for Ukraine.
Patrol boats of the project 03160 “Raptor” were developed by the design bureau of JSC Leningrad Shipyard Pella on the instructions of the Russian Navy. The boats are designed for patrolling and the transfer of troops in the coastal zone of the seas, straits and river estuaries during daylight hours and at night, at a maximum distance of up to 100 miles from the base.
Raptor-class boats can also be used for promptly transporting up to 20 marines, intercepting and detaining small targets, and carrying out search and rescue operations in the areas of their patrolling.
The Project 03160 patrol boat is armored and outfitted with a remotely operated weapon station with a 14.5mm machine-gun and two 7.62mm Pecheneg machine-guns on bracket mounts. The boat is 16.9 meters long and 4.1 meters wide and has a crew of three. It can develop a speed of up to 50 knots.
Due to the great similarity in appearance, the boats of the project can be confused with the Swedish CB90-class fast assault craft and other transport and landing boats of the 02510 BK-16 project, developed by the Kalashnikov concern and manufactured at Rybinsk shipyard. The bridge with two crew workstations and controls is shifted to the bow of the boat. The windows are made of bullet-resistant glass 39 mm thick. The troop compartment is located behind the wheelhouse. Also, a bow ramp can be used for landing troops.
According to the Ukrainian statement, two Russian Raptors were sunk by the Bayraktar TB2 UAV. TB2 was supplied by Turkey to Ukraine. This UAV has a wingspan of 12 m, can carry 55 kg of weapons and is capable of 27 hours of continuous operation at a distance of 300 km from the control station.
The Bayraktar TB2 is equipped with a MAM-L laser-guided missile with a maximum warhead of 22 kg, which is considered the top threat to tanks and armor on the battlefield.
