Ukraine Attacked Russian Ship in Port of Sochi Using British K3 Scout Maritime Drones — The Times
Ukraine used British K3 Scout unmanned surface vessels during an attack on a Russian ship in the port of Sochi.
This was reported by The Times, citing sources in the defense industry.
According to the publication, on September 3, at least two unmanned vessels entered the port of Sochi and attacked the Russian ship Nefrit.
One of the drones breached the defensive perimeter and damaged the ship’s port side. The second failed to reach its target and exploded.
According to The Times, the K3 Scout boats, manufactured by the British company Kraken Technology, were used in the attack.
Industry sources confirmed to The Times that the company supplied these drones for use in at least one combat strike against a Russian vessel.
K3 Scout maritime drone
The K3 Scout is an unmanned surface vessel approximately 8.5 meters long.
The vessel’s maximum speed is approximately 55 knots, or 102 km/h, and its payload capacity can reach 600 kg. These specifications make it suitable for strike missions.
In addition, the boat can be equipped to transport FPV drones.
The K3 Scout’s stated range is about 650 nautical miles, or 1,200 km. This is sufficient to cover the distance from Odesa to Sochi.
At the same time, the company is testing alternative methods for delivering the boats to remote areas.
Earlier this year, during tests off the coast of the United Kingdom, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force practiced deploying the K3 Scout from a transport aircraft.
The boat was dropped by parachute into the open sea, from where it could proceed to a designated area. According to the British Navy, the vessel successfully withstood four consecutive drops.
K3 Scout for air defense
Another feature of the K3 Scout is the ability to install a three-dimensional radar system for detecting air and surface targets.
Such equipment is unusual for small unmanned boats.
The radar is designed, in particular, to detect small aerial objects at long ranges and can be used for early warning.
Kraken Technology is rapidly expanding its production capacity. Earlier this year, the company raised $175 million in investment. The facility in Fårhem covers an area of approximately 3,250 square meters, and the company plans to reach an annual production capacity of up to 1,000 boats.
