Ukraine's stalker 5.0: A new force in black sea security
At the international security forum held in Odessa, the Stalker 5.0 was showcased. This is the latest Ukrainian surface drone, and it is expected to begin service soon in the Black Sea region. What are the specifications of this weapon?
In recent months, the Russian Black Sea Fleet has suffered significant losses. Despite not having large warships in their arsenal, Ukrainians have managed to destroy and damage numerous Russian vessels. They use, among other things, cruise missiles like Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG provided by Western allies, as well as various types of surface drones that they primarily produce themselves.
Stalker 5.0 - the new Ukrainian marine drone
Initially, Ukrainian surface drones were makeshift constructions and lacked advanced capabilities. However, successful attacks on Russian ships demonstrated that developing such weapons was worthwhile. As a result, the Ukrainian army now possesses several effective and fairly advanced surface drones, including the new Stalker 5.0.
Disclosed information reveals that a 60-horsepower engine powers this drone. Due to this, the Stalker 5.0 is expected to reach speeds over 40 knots (approximately 75 km/h or 45 mph). The new Ukrainian model measures about 16 feet (5 meters) in length and 4 feet (1.2 meters) in width.
Ukrainians are developing many marine drones
An important feature of the Stalker 5.0 is its range, which, according to the developers, reaches up to 370 miles (595 kilometres). The main communication system used is the Starlink satellite system.
Regarding its purpose, the Stalker 5.0 has been described as a versatile surface drone. It can be used for surveillance, patrolling coastal areas, and combat missions involving destroying enemy equipment.
This surface drone's warhead weighs 330 lbs (150 kilograms). Additionally, the Stalker 5.0 has extra space in the hull for transporting provisions or equipment.
The cost of producing one unit of the Stalker 5.0 is about 60,000 euros (88,000 CAD). It is not yet known if this amount includes the warhead. Until now, the most advanced Ukrainian marine drone was considered the Magura V5 (Maritime Autonomous Guard Unmanned Robotic Apparatus). This UAV has similar dimensions and almost identical maximum speed. Other important marine drones in Ukrainian service are the Sea Baby and Mykola-3.
