Miniature Aircraft Carrier Fits In A Bathtub But Packs An FPV

Ursula is the latest addition to Ukraine’s drone boat fleet. At just one meter (about three feet) long, it may look more like a toy than a serious piece of military hardware, but this robot vessel may be the world’s smallest aircraft carrier, transporting an FPV drone for reconnaissance or attack missions.

Ukraine has previously carried out successful attacks on Russian forces in coastal areas with FPVs launched from larger drone boats. Ursula, smaller and able to travel up further rivers and through swampy areas, could hit the Russians in a lot of new places.

Tech Startups

Ursula was revealed in a video released by the Association of Ukrainian Engineers, a group set up shared ideas, publicize members work and attract investors. It was developed by ToviTechNet, a previously unknown company.

A multi-role vessel, Ursula can be fitted with sensors to carry out river patrols or be armed with small explosive charge for suicide attacks on enemy boats. Or, as seen in the video, it can transport a drone.

The drone is not shown taking off from the boat and no details are given, so the project may be in its early stages. However similar drone boats or Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs) are in operation and flying drones from USVs is already standard practice.

In particular Ukrainian military news source Militarnyi noted in January 2025 that the armed forces was receiving Black Widow 2 USVs. Also, little more than a meter long the Black Widow 2 is capable of speeds of up to 25 mph. It has a raised camera on a gimbal for reconnaissance. The battery is sufficient for several hours of operation, but with the engines turned off it can wait in lurking moder for several days. Black Widow 2 can carry a 3-kilo explosive charge, enough to destroy a small boat or damage a larger vessel.

The developers say they produced it in response to demand from the Ukrainian military, who needed it for operations against the Russians on the islands on the Dnipro river. Design started in 2023, the Black Widow 2 was demonstrated in late 2024 and it was in use at the start of 2025. One boat costs just $2,400 and the company says they can make 100 per month.

Black Widow 2 has not been seen configured as a drone carrier, but it is unlikely that nobody else has had the idea.

Drone Aircraft Carriers Attack

USV carriers struck their first targets last year, when they hit Russian offshore platforms used for observation and electronic warfare. According to Militarnyi the drone boats launched FPVs which engaged the Russian defenders. This prevented them from dealing with the USVs, which appear to have dropped underwater mines to damage the legs of the platforms as well as ramming them before exploding.

HI Sutton notes that the USVs, a type not seen before, each appeared to be equipped with 4 drones. The raid appears to have been a success, leaving the platforms destroyed or on fire.

Ukraine’s security services have released video of USVs launching both FPV attack drones and longer-range fixed-wing drones. The FPVs have a claimed range oi around 10 miles, the fixed-wing drones around 25 miles.

In January Ukraine released video showing an attacks on a Russian air defence systems by FPVs carried by drone boats. The boats appear to have been similar to the Magura USV seen previously, but may have been the same as the ones used to attack offshore platforms, Earlier this month a Ukrainian USV raid on Crimea launched FPVs which destroyed three radar a systems and a command post.

Small Size, Unlimited Range

While larger USVs have attacked targets out at sea or further along the coast, Ursula seems to be more intended for riverine warfare. Being able to covertly move an FPV into an attacking position and engage enemy forces miles away from the water will open up new dimensions.

In future though, miniature aircraft carriers could attack targets at longer, and very much longer ranges. Existing small USVs which do not rely on battery power but draw energy from their surroundings have effectively unlimited range.

These include the WaveGlider platform operated by the U.S. Navy, a surfboard sized vessel which generates forward motion from wave power and powers its electronics with solar cells. Back in 2011 makers Liquid Robotics sent a fleet of WaveGliders across the Pacific Ocean to demonstrate their ability to carry out months-long missions. The Russians appear to have copied the design in 2016 and others may too.

The Saildrone is a wind-powered USV robust enough to sail through the eye of a hurricane and also trialed by the U.S. Navy for a variety of missions requiring extreme endurance. As with WaveGliders, Saildrones have also carried out ocean crossings. They

These vessels are not fast, but they are inexpensive and stealthy compared to traditional vessels and could cover the world’s oceans – and infiltrate shorelines, rivers, deltas and swamps, ready to unleash a Spiderweb-tyle drone attack on unsuspecting adversaries.

Crews of aircraft carriers may also need to be wary. One FPV strike is enough to destroy an aircraft on deck. Taking out 95% of the attacking drones and boats may not be enough.

Just as hobbyist drones have started to dominate land warfare, USVs that look like bath toys may become surprisingly important at sea.