Grad-armed Sea Baby drones

Also known as

Sea Baby
SeaBaby
Sea Baby drone
Grad-equipped Sea Baby
Grad-armed Sea Baby

Grad-armed Sea Baby drones are Ukrainian Security Service Sea Baby unmanned surface vessels modified to launch 122 mm Grad rockets from the water. Reporting places the six-rocket fit in combat from December 2023, including strikes on Russian positions near the Kinburn Spit in May 2024, while 2025 reporting on an upgraded Sea Baby generation showed a heavier 10-round Grad launcher.

Grad-armed Sea Baby drones, Rocket-armed unmanned surface vessel, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Ukrainian marine drones

Role in Conflicts

Side: Ukraine

SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said a Grad-equipped Sea Baby had first been used in December 2023, and later reporting placed the same fit against Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit in May 2024.

Role details

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin: Ukraine
Built by: Security Service of Ukraine
Type: Rocket-armed unmanned surface vessel
Service note: 2014 Russia-Ukraine War, documented from 2023
Designer: Security Service of Ukraine
Designed: Sea Baby program public from 2023; Grad-armed configuration publicly confirmed in 2024; upgraded 10-round Grad fit shown in 2025
Unit cost: Sea Baby baseline reported at about UAH 8.5 million or about US$213,000-221,000; upgraded 2025 configuration cost not publicly disclosed
Produced: 2023-present
Number built: Not publicly disclosed

Specifications

Crew: Uncrewed, remotely operated surface vessel
Armament: Grad multiple-launch rocket system fit; documented configurations include six 122 mm rockets and a later 10-round Grad launcher
Platform: Sea Baby unmanned surface vessel family developed by the Security Service of Ukraine
Range: Baseline Sea Baby range reported up to 1,000 km; 2025 upgraded generation reported over 1,500 km
Speed: Baseline Sea Baby speed reported up to 90 km/h
Payload: Baseline Sea Baby combat load reported up to 850 kg; 2025 upgraded generation reported up to 2,000 kg
Rocket class: 122 mm Grad rockets

Variants

Sea Baby is a modular SBU unmanned surface vessel family rather than a single fixed armament package; this entry isolates the documented Grad-armed configurations.

Variant	Configuration	Designation notes
Sea Baby USV	Parent unmanned surface vessel family	The parent Sea Baby record covers the broader SBU USV family, including explosive, mine-laying, machine-gun, and rocket-armed configurations. Sources: This is Battleship, Ukraine's Sea Baby Maritime Drone (USV)
Sea Baby with six 122 mm Grad rockets	Early rocket-armed configuration	Open-source naval analysis identifies imagery of a six-rocket 122 mm Grad configuration, and SBU-linked reporting says Grad-equipped Sea Baby craft had already been used by May 2024. Sources: Ukraine's Sea Baby Maritime Drone (USV), Source: SBU has a new weapon - Grad-equipped Sea Baby drones
Sea Baby with 10-round Grad launcher	Upgraded rocket-armed configuration	2025 reporting on an SBU demonstration described a newer Sea Baby carrying a 10-round Grad multiple launch rocket system. Sources: SBU demonstrates next generation of Sea Baby drones, Ukraine Unveils New Gun-Wielding, Rocket-Launching Sea Baby Drones
Sea Baby explosive strike variant	Explosive strike configuration	The Sea Baby family also includes explosive strike configurations used for maritime attack missions. Sources: This is Battleship, Ukraine's Sea Baby Maritime Drone (USV)
Sea Baby mine-laying variant	Mine-laying configuration	Covert Shores lists a mine-laying Sea Baby configuration alongside the rocket-armed and explosive payload variants. Sources: Ukraine's Sea Baby Maritime Drone (USV)

Rocket Launcher Fit

This Sea Baby variant is documented carrying Grad launchers rather than only an explosive payload.

Carried item	Item type	Carriage evidence
BM-21 Grad	122 mm multiple launch rocket system	UNITED24 reported Sea Baby boats equipped with Grad systems were used against Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit on 2024-05-22; later reporting on an SBU demonstration described a heavier 10-round Grad fit. Sources: Do you remember our fundraiser for SSU Sea Baby drones with monobank, Sternenko and Lachen, which you closed in 36 hours?, SBU demonstrates next generation of Sea Baby drones, Ukraine Unveils New Gun-Wielding, Rocket-Launching Sea Baby Drones

Carried item

Item type

Carriage evidence

BM-21 Grad

122 mm multiple launch rocket system

UNITED24 reported Sea Baby boats equipped with Grad systems were used against Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit on 2024-05-22; later reporting on an SBU demonstration described a heavier 10-round Grad fit.

Sources: Do you remember our fundraiser for SSU Sea Baby drones with monobank, Sternenko and Lachen, which you closed in 36 hours?, SBU demonstrates next generation of Sea Baby drones, Ukraine Unveils New Gun-Wielding, Rocket-Launching Sea Baby Drones

Timeline

Grad-armed Sea Baby drones Key Events

Jan 1, 2023
First Grad fit reported in combat
SBU chief Vasyl Maliuk said a Grad-equipped Sea Baby had first been used in December 2023.
Sources: Ukraine's Security Service chief confirms Sea Baby drones have been equipped with Grad multiple rocket launchers
May 22, 2024
Kinburn Spit use reported
UNITED24 reported that Sea Baby boats were equipped with Grad systems and used against Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit.
Sources: Do you remember our fundraiser for SSU Sea Baby drones with monobank, Sternenko and Lachen, which you closed in 36 hours?
Oct 22, 2025
New Sea Baby generation shown with heavier rocket fit
Interfax and Kyiv Post reported a Sea Baby demonstration that included a version carrying a 10-round Grad multiple launch rocket system.
Sources: SBU demonstrates next generation of Sea Baby drones, Ukraine Unveils New Gun-Wielding, Rocket-Launching Sea Baby Drones

Design Notes

The documented Grad fit changes Sea Baby from a one-way explosive craft into a reusable sea-launched rocket platform. The rows below keep the shift in capability easy to scan.

Feature	Source-backed detail	Why it matters
Initial combat fit	UNITED24 reported on 2024-05-22 that Sea Baby boats were equipped with Grad systems and used against Russian positions on the Kinburn Spit.	Shows the USV was being used to launch rocket fire from the water.
Early launcher layout	Covert Shores identifies imagery of a six-rocket 122 mm Grad configuration on Sea Baby.	Separates the first visible rocket-armed fit from later, heavier demonstration hardware.
Next-generation demo	Interfax and Kyiv Post reported on 2025-10-22 that the SBU showed a Sea Baby version carrying a 10-round Grad multiple launch rocket system.	Shows the rocket-armed concept was still being iterated and expanded.