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Did the UK Quietly Arm Ukraine With 140 Next‑Gen Sea Drones?
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
While the United Kingdom continues to test Syos Aerospace’s Rattler maritime drones, new information suggests that Ukraine may have already been using similar systems in combat operations, according to Defense Express on November 6.
The Royal Navy recently conducted a three-day trial involving five Rattler unmanned surface vessels designed by Syos Aerospace. The tests simulated a “wolfpack” formation escorting two patrol ships that represented enemy vessels, Defense Express reported, citing Naval News.
The Rattler platform was developed and assembled in just two months based on a 7.2-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB). Syos engineers reportedly converted these vessels into autonomous systems by equipping them with specialized control and communication modules.
More notably, Defense Express highlighted that another Syos model—the SM300—has already seen operational use. The SM300 features a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers, can carry up to 300 kilograms of payload, and is priced around $210,000 per unit. It includes a CRPA antenna for navigation and a satellite link for command and control.
According to Syos Aerospace’s CEO, the company has produced more than 140 maritime drones over the past 12 months, though the specific models and clients were not disclosed.
Given that earlier this year Syos signed a $40 million contract with the United Kingdom to deliver unnamed drones to Ukraine, Defense Express noted that a significant portion of these systems could have been deployed there.
The report also recalls an incident last year off the coast of Romania, where a maritime drone resembling a modified RHIB equipped with a warhead from a Soviet-era P-15 Termit missile was discovered.
Analysts now speculate that this prototype may have been an early version of the systems later developed by Syos Aerospace and supplied to Ukraine for testing.
Founded only four years ago, Syos Aerospace entered the unmanned maritime systems market two years ago. The company’s rapid development cycle and scalable drone architecture have positioned it as one of the UK’s most dynamic defense technology startups.
Earlier, The New York Times revealed that the US government secretly invested $1.5 billion to boost Ukraine’s drone industry.
According to the report, the funding—approved in September 2023—was aimed at accelerating domestic drone production and linking Ukrainian manufacturers with American technology firms.
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