Russian Naval Vessel Gets Droned Cage And Add-on ECM

Pr.11982 Seliger Class ship with drone cage (A) and ECM (B), covered forward deck (C) and netting over deck-level walkways (D), Novorossiysk March 2026.

Flag Russia A Russian Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research (GUGI) Pr.11982 Seliger class experimental & oceanographic vessel [sic], likely Ladoga, has been photographed in Novorossiysk fitted with a drone cage and bolt-on electronic countermeasures (ECM). The measure reflect Ukraine’s growing threat to the fleet.

The high-value asset, associated with seabed warfare, is moored in Novorossiysk next to the submarine pen. It appeared in the background of local media reports about one of the submarines there. The ship appears to have been recently upgraded with a covered forward deck (possibly temporary). A metal frame supports a mesh cage in front of the bridge windows to stop low-speed drones striking from that angle. There also appears to be netting over the narrowe deck either side of the bridge superstructure, similar to the nets used aboard the Mary Rose to stop cannon balls. A multi-antenna ECM (or other electronic warfare (EW) system) is mounted above the bridge next to the radomes.

Russian Naval GUGI Vessel Ladoga

File image of Ladoga without the drone cage and ECM, transiting the Bosporus in September 2021. Photo Yörük Işık

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