Recent satellite imagery from Vantor reveals that Russian Navy has deployed anti drone nets over the Borei class (NATO reporting name Dolgorukiy-class) ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), docked at Rybachiy.

Located on the Kamchatka peninsula, Rybachiy serves as one of the strategic naval bases of the Russian Navy`s Pacific Fleet, and is approximately 7400 km East of Ukraine.

While submerged, the Borei class SSBNs are the most survivable leg of the Russian nuclear triad. The boat carries out long deterrence patrols in the Pacific ocean. It houses 16 RSM-56 Bulava (NATO reporting name SS-N-30) submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs).

Anti drone nets offer limited protection

Probably a direct adoption from the cage armor of the main battle tanks employed in Ukraine, these nets offer limited protection against slow moving First Person View (FPV) quad copter drones. These FPVs carry shaped charged warheads like the ones onboard the Rocket Propelled Grenades (RPGs).

The drone defense mechanism employed by the nets revolve around premature detonation of the RPG`s impact fuse by increasing the physical separation distance between the net and the hull as well as causing the dissipation of shaped charge molten jet. Although not perfect these enhance the survivability of the platform.

According to HI Sutton, similar anti-drone metallic meshes have been seen over the submarines of the Black Sea fleet as well the submarines of the Baltic and Northern fleet (located on the shores of the Barents Sea). These are even seen on the Russian surface warships, particularly the ones operating in the Black Sea.

In general these nets are located above the sail of the submarine, protecting the hatch which leads directly into the submarine`s control room. But the netting observed from the satellite imagery covers the entire boat.

Strategic priority to protect nuclear submarines

Surface warships house deck mounted guns and rockets which can provide additional protection against drone swarms. But in general submarines lack these hard kill measures.

Designed with an objective of protecting the submarines docked at the piers, these nets seeks to defend against surprise attacks from drones launched from closer distances to the base, like the once in Operation Spiderweb. In which on 1st June 2025 the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) carried out a coordinated drone strike deep inside Russian territory.

The operation targeted four strategic air bases (located at Olenya, Diaghilevo, Belaya, and Ivanovo)using small quad copter FPV drones. These were covertly smuggled into Russia and launched from hidden compartments inside cargo trucks. The operation struck more than 40 high-value military aircraft which include strategic bombers Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and an A-50 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) planes. This operation demonstrated Ukraine’s asymmetric warfare capabilities.