Russian Northern Fleet Deploys Anti-Drone Nets on Submarines at Gadzhievo Naval Base

Ukrainian drones have struck Russian naval assets, including a June 1 2025 swarm that destroyed four bombers at Olenya and a recent strike on a Project 10410 patrol ship in Kaspiisk. The Olenya attack, dubbed “Spiderweb,” demonstrated the reach of small UAVs. In response, Northern Fleet fitted anti-drone netting around two Delta-IV submarines at Gadzhievo base. Similar nets have been observed at Rybachiy base in Kamchatka, while vessels in Severomorsk show no comparable installations.

United24 Media

Senior Research Fellow Kristian Åtland of the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment assessed the netting as a precaution against Ukrainian FPV drone attacks, noting its similarity to protections seen at Kamchatka. He emphasized that the nets are likely intended for small quadcopters rather than larger drones. The images were first posted by the Nakhimov Naval School in Murmansk during a student visit to Gadzhievo and quickly spread on VKontakte and Telegram after removal from the school’s site.

Northern Fleet deploys anti-drone nets over nuclear submarines

The netted vessels are Delta-IV submarines K-84 Yekaterinburg, decommissioned in 2020, and K-51 Verkhoturye, an active platform capable of carrying up to 16 Sineva missiles with multiple nuclear warheads. Nets drape the bow, torpedo tubes, sonar arrays, sail and missile compartment, and also enclose the missile hatch, a critical area for the submarine’s strike capability; the stern sections are not visible, leaving their protection status uncertain.

Northern Fleet deploys anti-drone nets over nuclear submarines

Analysts caution that the net design targets small quadcopter drones and may not stop larger, fixed-wing UAVs carrying substantial explosives. The protective scope is limited to forward sections, and no official Russian statement has detailed the deployment’s extent. It remains unclear whether other Northern Fleet submarines or surface ships employ similar nets. Effectiveness against swarms of multiple drones also remains untested.

United24 Media

• “Presumably, the purpose of these nets is to protect such assets against attacks by Ukrainian FPV drones,” — Kristian Åtland, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

United24 Media

• “The purpose of the nets is supposedly to protect these assets from Ukrainian FPV drone strikes,” — Kristian Åtland, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

Northern Fleet deploys anti-drone nets over nuclear submarines

• “Similar netting protection has reportedly been installed over strategic submarines moored at the Rybachiy naval base in Kamchatka, some 7,400 kilometres east of Ukraine,” — Kristian Åtland, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

Northern Fleet deploys anti-drone nets over nuclear submarines

• “Thus, the temporary installation of these protective netting systems likely reflects a precautionary approach and growing concern about drone threats, rather than a specific or immediate risk,” — Kristian Åtland, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Defence Research Establishment

Northern Fleet deploys anti-drone nets over nuclear submarines

The Gadzhievo netting illustrates a shift toward low-tech defenses for Russia’s strategic submarines. Ongoing monitoring of Arctic naval bases and Ukrainian drone capabilities will determine whether such measures become standard or remain a temporary precaution. Future assessments will consider whether similar nets appear at other Arctic bases such as Severomorsk.

United24 Media