A naval strike drone with American and Soviet design elements has been found off the coast of Romania.
According to Naval News, the drone was discovered on 3 April 20 miles east of Tuzla, and after examination it was destroyed on 5 April.
The drone is based on an aluminium-hulled rigid-inflatable AM-800 boat built by Silver Ships in Alabama. Attached to the drone’s wooden frame was a warhead from the Soviet P-20 Termite anti-ship missile (ASM). Both Ukraine and Russia have technological access to this type of projectile.
Who exactly owns the maritime drone has not been officially disclosed, but it is assumed that it does belong to Ukraine, especially given the fact that the manufacturer Silver Ships has previously delivered unspecified vessels to Ukraine as part of US aid.
In December 2023, it was reported that the Pentagon provided Kiev with information to launch local production of some FrankenSAM hybrid air defence systems. This was reported in the White House. The complex, created on the basis of the Soviet SAM “Buk”, will use NATO missiles from the Cold War.
