Profile
- Type
- Rocket-armed unmanned surface vessel
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Origin
- Ukraine
- Service note
- Russia-Ukraine War, documented from 2023
Aircraft & UAVs
Grad-armed Sea Baby drones
Grad-armed Sea Baby drones are Ukrainian Security Service unmanned surface vessels adapted from the Sea Baby naval drone into a reusable coastal-strike platform. The variant replaces or supplements the explosive-boat role with a compact launcher for 122 mm Grad rockets, allowing Ukrainian operators to fire from the sea at shore targets such as Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit while retaining the Sea Baby platform's long range and high-speed unmanned surface-vehicle profile.
- Conflict side
- Ukraine
- Built by
- Security Service of Ukraine
- Built in
- Ukraine
Service History
- In service
- Used by Ukrainian forces during the Russia-Ukraine War
- Used by
- Security Service of Ukraine, Ukrainian Navy
- Wars
- Russia-Ukraine War
Production History
- Designer
- Security Service of Ukraine
- Designed
- Sea Baby program public from 2023; Grad-armed configuration publicly confirmed in 2024
- Built by
- Security Service of Ukraine
- Built in
- Ukraine
- Unit cost
- Sea Baby baseline reported at about UAH 8.5 million or about US$213,000-221,000
- Produced
- 2023-present
- Number built
- Not publicly disclosed
- Variants
- Sea Baby USV with six 122 mm Grad rockets, Sea Baby explosive strike variant, Sea Baby mine-laying variant
Specifications
- Crew
- Uncrewed, remotely operated surface vessel
- Armament
- Grad multiple-launch rocket system fit; open-source imagery documents a six-rocket 122 mm Grad configuration
- Platform
- Sea Baby unmanned surface vessel
- Range
- Up to 1,000 km for the Sea Baby platform
- Speed
- Up to 90 km/h
- Payload
- Sea Baby baseline combat load up to 850 kg
Conflict Usage
- Russia-Ukraine War
- Side: Ukraine
Ukrainian Security Service Sea Baby unmanned surface vessels were fitted with Grad multiple-rocket launchers and reported used with the Ukrainian Navy against Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit in May 2024; SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk later said a Grad-equipped Sea Baby had first been used in December 2023.
Related Weapon Systems
MAGURA V5Unmanned surface vesselThe MAGURA V5 is a Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel built for reconnaissance, patrol, mine-warfare, fleet-security, and strike missions. In the Russia-Ukraine War it became one of Ukraine's best documented naval drones, used by Defence Intelligence units for long-range Black Sea attacks against Russian naval vessels.Ukrainian Explosive Naval DronesExplosive unmanned surface vesselUkrainian explosive naval drones are low-profile unmanned surface vessels developed during the Russia-Ukraine War to extend Ukrainian strike reach in the Black Sea. The family includes MAGURA V5 drones associated with Defence Intelligence of Ukraine operations and Sea Baby drones associated with the Security Service of Ukraine, pairing remote or semi-autonomous control with large explosive payloads for attacks on Russian naval targets.
A1-CM FuriaFixed-wing tactical reconnaissance UAVThe A1-CM Furia is a Ukrainian electric fixed-wing tactical UAV built by Athlon Avia for reconnaissance and artillery fire correction. Developed after Ukraine's 2014 need for organic battlefield ISR, it gives Ukrainian units a portable sensor platform for locating targets, transmitting video, and adjusting indirect fire under wartime electronic-warfare pressure.
AN-196 LiutyiLong-range one-way attack UAVThe AN-196 Liutyi is a Ukrainian long-range one-way attack UAV developed after Russia began large-scale Shahed-type drone attacks. Open sources describe it as a runway-launched, twin-boom pusher aircraft built for deep strikes with a 75 kg-class warhead and a published range goal above 1,000 km, making it part of Ukraine's campaign against Russian refinery, logistics, industrial, and military targets far beyond the front line.
AQ-400 ScytheLong-range one-way strike UAVThe AQ-400 Scythe is a Ukrainian long-range one-way strike UAV developed by Terminal Autonomy for mass production and deep-strike missions. Its modular airframe, pusher-propeller layout, and visual/terrain-aided navigation are intended to provide Ukraine with a comparatively low-cost way to put a sizable payload hundreds of kilometers from the launch area under electronic-warfare pressure.
Bayraktar TB2Medium-altitude long-endurance UAVA Turkish unmanned aircraft used for reconnaissance and strike missions. It became especially prominent in the early phase of the full-scale invasion.Sources
This is BattleshipPublisher: UNITED24 | Note: Official Ukrainian government fundraiser describing Sea Baby as an SBU product and listing baseline Sea Baby dimensions, speed, range, payload, and unit price. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Ukraine's Security Service chief confirms Sea Baby drones have been equipped with Grad multiple rocket launchersPublisher: Ukrainska Pravda | Note: Directly supports Russia-Ukraine War combat use by reporting SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk's confirmation that Sea Baby USVs were fitted with Grad MLRS and first used in December 2023; also provides platform background and baseline performance figures. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Ukraine's Sea Baby Naval Drones Equipped with Rocket LaunchersPublisher: Marine Technology News | Note: Directly supports Russia-Ukraine War operational use by reporting that some SBU Sea Baby drones had been equipped with Grad launchers and used against Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Ukraine's Sea Baby Maritime Drone (USV)Publisher: Covert Shores | Note: Open-source naval reference describing Sea Baby weapon options, including a six-rocket 122 mm Grad configuration, and summarizing platform specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-20Ukrainian marine dronesPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Open-license image of Ukrainian Sea Baby marine drones from the Security Service of Ukraine, licensed CC BY 4.0 with attribution to ssu.gov.ua. | Accessed: 2026-06-20