According to a tweet published by Chuck Pfarrer on July 19, 2023, the Kerch Straits Bridge was targeted in a second attack by Ukraine, this time utilizing sophisticated 2nd Generation Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs).
Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link
Artist rendering of the Ukrainian attack on the Kerch Straits bridge. (Picture source: @ChuckPfarrer)
In late 2022, the conflict between Ukraine and Russia experienced a strategic evolution. The Ukrainian military began using unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and drones to a greater extent, leading to a notable attack on the Russian-occupied Sevastopol Naval Base. The effectiveness of this new strategy was evident as Russian officials reported the loss of nine UAVs and seven USVs.
Kerch Bridge attack
The assault on the Kerch Bridge was carried out by two naval drones. The first drone exploded at 0300 local time on July 16th, followed by the second at 0320.
Both detonations caused substantial damage to the road spans. A Ukrainian naval drone was intentionally blown up under the span of the bridge, and the linear-shaped warhead configuration focused the blast upwards, causing the road deck section at an expansion joint to buckle.
The road spans of the bridge incurred significant damage, an indication that the USVs were loaded with roughly 1000 lbs (453 kg) of explosives arranged in a linear-shaped charge. The USVs were detonated while strategically positioned under the bridge span.
The USVs, made from radar-absorbent carbon fiber and fiberglass and characterized by low radar observability, offer significant features. These include multi-band uplinks that transmit video footage from targeting cameras and receive navigational instructions from a controller.
The targeting camera, which can pan, tilt, and zoom, is equipped with video and thermal capabilities and is gimbaled for precision. The USV design also incorporates several water-tight compartments to adjust buoyancy as needed, with the central compartments housing an explosive payload of approximately 1000 lbs.
Artist rendering of the Ukrainian Naval Drone. (Picture source: @ChuckPfarrer)
