The unexpected move of the Ukrainians has changed military tactics around the world, the biggest powers are studying the secret of success

It has been successfully deployed by the Ukrainians using unmanned surface vessels (USVs) against Russian naval installations and warships. Kiev has achieved a de facto victory over the Russian Black Sea Fleet with essentially no navy of its own. Russia’s response to the Ukrainian attacks has been to move its fleet further away from threats, undermining its dominance in the Black Sea. Successful operations in Ukraine have encouraged naval analysts around the world to take a closer look at the potential of USVs.

Russia’s close partner, China, does not want to be left behind in the competition either.

Analysts from China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) focused on the challenges and opportunities of USVs in a January 2024 article. The authors highlighted the advantages of the devices, such as effective concealment, low cost, strong destructive power, intelligent control and autonomous operation. Unmanned surface ships have been observed to have greater explosive power compared to airstrikes and missiles, and their modular design allows for a variety of attack modes.

The report highlighted that the protection of port infrastructure and ships is a major challenge against USV attacks. They also elaborated on possible defenses: a multi-domain three-dimensional defense system including detection, defense and attack was proposed. In the field of sensing, the importance of active and passive methods was emphasized. In addition to the modernization of coastal protection, the importance of information exchange was also highlighted.

In addition to the use of floating defense barriers, a new type of kill chain network was proposed that would maximize combat effectiveness using precision-guided weapons and asymmetric combat styles.

The use of USVs in Ukraine highlighted that even a small state can pose a significant threat to a major power. It is worrying for Beijing that the case in Ukraine could even set an example for Taiwan, which is disputed by China. For the island, their low cost and autonomous nature can speak in favor of the use of unmanned surface vessels. China, on the other hand, is trying to use the lessons learned in its favor, to use USVs, and to create adequate defense in a possible war.

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