“FPV But on Water,”—Ukraine Tests Revolutionary Black Widow 2 River Drones

Ukrainian Armed Forces are conducting military trials of the Black Widow 2, a small suicide river drone, according to Ukrainian military outlet Militarny on January 7.

The Black Widow 2 is a compact unmanned vessel measuring one meter in length and weighing just 8 kilograms. It can reach speeds of up to 40 km/h and has an operational range of 10 kilometers. Powered by an onboard battery, the drone can remain active for several hours or switch to standby mode for several days while awaiting a target.

“We’re FPV, but on water,” explained the drone’s developer.

The drone features a camera mounted on a swiveling platform capable of horizontal and vertical movement, with functionality for both day and night operations.

Its payload capacity is 3 kilograms, sufficient to destroy small boats and vessels, the developer said.

Beyond reconnaissance and surveillance missions, the Black Widow 2, loaded with explosives, is designed to sink Russian boats.

Development of the Black Widow 2 began in 2023 in response to Ukrainian military demands to counter Russian troop rotations on islands in the Dnipro River. Currently, the drones are undergoing military trials with two brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The drone costs approximately $2,700, and the production company claims it can manufacture up to 100 units per month.

The prototype was first unveiled at the Defense Tech Valley investment summit in October 2024.

At the event, developers revealed plans for additional versions of the drone, including one designed for clearing anchored mines and a larger river drone currently under development.

Earlier, the Main Directorate of Defense Innovations under the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted a demonstration test of FPV drones controlled via fiber-optic cables.