Russian Far East nuclear submarine base adds anti-drone nets, unmanned equipment protection prompts adjustments across multiple platforms
Satellite imagery shows Russia has installed anti-drone protective nets over multiple nuclear submarines at the Vilyuchinsk naval base on the Kamchatka Peninsula. The base hosts the Pacific Fleet's nuclear submarine deployment. A total of eight moored submarines are covered by the protection, including Borei-class and Borei-A-class ballistic missile submarines, as well as Oscar-class, Yasen-class, and Akula-class attack submarines. The protective installations consist mainly of L-shaped steel frames along the piers and retractable netting. When submarines are berthed, the nets can cover the upper hull; before submarines depart port, the netting is rolled up and stowed. Such facilities cannot withstand long-range cruise drones or heavy missile strikes, but can provide a degree of physical shielding against low-cost threats such as small FPV drones and improvised unmanned devices. The Russian side has also deployed double-layer floating barriers on the outer side of the mooring area to prevent unmanned surface vessels from entering the harbor.
2026-08-10
