Ukrainian Drone Strike Destroys Rare Soviet-Era Naval Rocket Launcher, Video

Ukrainian forces destroyed a rare Russian improvised rocket launcher, the RBU-6000 naval rocket launcher mounted on a land-based chassis, using FPV drones, according to a report from Ukraine’s 5th Assault Brigade on November 25.

Only two such vehicles have been confirmed destroyed to date, as documented by Oryx, a military analysis group.

The most recent strike was carried out by Ukraine’s 5th Assault Brigade.

Previously, these launchers operated exclusively at night due to their limited range, but this time vehicle was left stationary on a roadway during the daytime, possibly because it was already damaged by a landmine.

Ukrainian attack drones eliminated the target.

The RBU-6000, originally a Soviet-era naval rocket launcher nicknamed “Smerch-2,” was developed in 1961 to counter submarines and torpedoes.

Featuring a twelve-barrel, two-axis guidance system, it was once a key asset for the Soviet Navy.

However, in recent years, Russian forces have adapted this maritime technology for land-based operations, including mounting it on MT-LB armored personnel carriers.

In September 2023, Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi reported sightings of RBU-6000 installations on tracked MT-LB vehicles.

Earlier, in August 2024, Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade released footage of a similar launcher being destroyed in the Kharkiv region.