Magura V5: Ukrainian Naval Drone for Destroying Naval Vessels

The Magura V5 unmanned maritime vehicle (UAV) is a multi-purpose unmanned surface vessel (USV) used for missions in coastal and open waters. This system is designed for surveillance, patrol, and target engagement missions requiring high maneuverability and the ability to operate remotely from bases. The vehicle is compact and low-slung, reducing its radar and visual signature. It can carry explosives or other payload modules, depending on the mission. It is controlled remotely via secure channels, with elements of autonomy for real-time course adjustments. Its design is designed for the harsh conditions of the Black Sea, including waves and potential communications interference.

Production is organized using domestically produced materials, allowing for a monthly output of several dozen units. The drone is integrated into naval systems, where it complements traditional means for expanding the area of ​​control. Its application covers scenarios from reconnaissance to direct intervention, with a focus on efficiency within limited resources. The system is positioned as a tool for missions where precision approach and minimal response time to changing situations are essential.

History of creation

Development of the Magura V5 began in 2022 within the Ukrainian defense industry, when specialists from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense approached private manufacturers with a request to create a surface drone for operations in the Black Sea. This decision was made following an analysis of the experience of using early naval drone prototypes, which revealed gaps in range and weather resistance. A team of engineers from the state-owned company SpetsTechnoExport based their work on previous generations, known as V1 through V4, which were tested at testing grounds to refine the basic principles of autonomous navigation. By November of that year, the government announced the project, emphasizing its potential for missions at ranges of up to 800 kilometers. Funding was partially provided through the United24 platform, which raised funds for the production of the first thirty units, although the exact amounts were not publicly disclosed.

The first ground tests took place in the winter of 2022, with the hull's hydrodynamics and communications systems tested in simulated storm conditions. In the spring of 2023, they moved on to sea trials in the Black Sea, where the device demonstrated stability in waves up to two meters high. This allowed the propulsion of the water jets to be adjusted to increase speed without compromising maneuverability. By July, the device was unveiled at the IDEF international exhibition in Istanbul, where it was showcased as a fully functional combat unit capable of carrying up to three hundred kilograms of explosives. At the SpetsTechnoExport booth, Ivan Sybiryakov, manager of the unmanned systems center, noted the platform's multi-role nature, which could be equipped with reconnaissance sensors or mine-hunting modules. This event attracted the attention of foreign partners, although supply contracts remained closed.

In August 2023, CNN published a video documenting the transition from prototype to production model, including footage of launch and target acquisition. By that time, production had picked up speed, with key components localized at Ukrainian factories to minimize dependence on imported supplies. That fall, the first batches were handed over to reconnaissance units for field evaluation, where operators noted the simplicity of the tablet-based control interface. By December 2023, navigation improvements had been made, adding inertial sensors for operation without satellite signals in jammed areas.

In 2024, the project expanded, integrating the Magura V5 into group operations, with multiple aircraft working together to saturate an area. February became a key month, with the system undergoing combat testing, demonstrating its reliability in real-world conditions. That summer, a version with modified R-73 missiles, known as SeeDragon, was introduced for air-to-air engagement, expanding its mission range. This decision was made following an analysis of threats from helicopters and low-flying aircraft. By September, production had peaked at fifty units per month, with plans for growth driven by European investment. In November 2024, the operator group commander, call sign "Thirteenth," gave an interview in which he revealed details of the tactics, including the use of decoys to distract enemy forces.

By 2025, the Magura V5 had evolved into a family, with the introduction of the V6P for patrol missions and the V7 with a 270-horsepower diesel engine. These variants were tested in the spring, with a focus on increasing range and integrating machine guns or AIM-9 missiles. Production stabilized, with an emphasis on field maintainability. The developers continued collaborating with the military, taking into account feedback on saltwater and corrosion resistance. By December 2025, the system had hundreds of units in service, with plans for export to countries with similar maritime challenges. The overall approach retained the principle of modularity, where the basic platform can be adapted to new threats without a complete overhaul.

Design and specifications

The Magura V5 features a compact V-shaped carbon fiber hull, providing a low profile of just half a meter and reducing radar signature. The vessel is five and a half meters long, one and a half meters wide, and has a draft of just forty centimeters, allowing it to maneuver in shallow water and find shelter behind waves. The hull is divided into compartments to protect the electronics from flooding, with sealed hatches for access to batteries and sensors. The materials are resistant to saltwater environments and have an anti-corrosion coating, extending its service life to several months.

Propulsion is provided by electric waterjets powered by lithium-ion batteries, ensuring silent operation and a minimal thermal signature. Two engines provide a cruising speed of forty kilometers per hour, with the ability to accelerate to eighty kilometers per hour in short bursts. This allows the vessel to quickly approach a target or evade detection. The bow is equipped with two cameras for day and night vision, with real-time video transmission via a mesh network or satellite. The navigation system includes GNSS for precise positioning, inertial sensors for autonomy in clutter, and visual recognition for final guidance.

The payload is housed in the central compartment and ranges from 250 to 320 kilograms of explosives for strike missions. Reconnaissance versions are equipped with hydroacoustic sensors for mine detection or radars for patrols. For air defense, two SeeDragon missiles based on the R-73, with a range of up to 40 kilometers, can be integrated. Control is performed from a laptop-sized ground station, where the operator makes course adjustments via a secure, redundant channel. The drone can operate in a swarm, with one drone relaying a signal to others, extending the communication range.

Transport is simplified by a disassemblable design, where the hull fits into a truck container. Assembly takes about an hour, with minimal tools. The V5 version includes stabilizers for waves up to three meters, increasing stability in storms. The electronics are protected from electromagnetic pulses, and the software allows for remote navigation algorithm updates. The total weight when loaded does not exceed one ton, facilitating launching from mobile platforms such as boats or piers. Testing has confirmed functionality in temperatures ranging from minus ten to plus thirty degrees Celsius, with a focus on reliability in saltwater.

Technical specifications

• Range: 800 km
• Maximum range: 833 km
• The mass of the warhead: 200-320 kg
• Cruising speed: 40 km / h
• Maximum speed: 78 km / h
• Working time: up to 3 days
• Length: 5.5 m
• Width: 1.5 m
• Draft: 0.4 m
• Weight: less than 1000 kg
• Price: 250-300 thousand dollars
• Engine: electric water jet
• Navigation: GNSS, inertial, visual

Combat application

The Magura V5 entered service in late 2023, when the initial batches were used for training launches in the Black Sea. Operators from Group 13 practiced target approach tactics, focusing on group launches to overload detection systems. The first combat use was recorded in May 2023, when three aircraft attacked an Ivan Khurs-class reconnaissance vessel hundreds of kilometers offshore. This demonstrated the drone's ability to navigate open waters without losing contact.

In February 2024, several units were used to attack the corvette Ivanovets near Donuzlav Bay. A similar operation was conducted against the Ropucha-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov. By March of that year, the system had been integrated into regular patrols, where it was combined with aerial reconnaissance to refine coordinates. Operators noted that the low landing allowed the system to hide behind the waves, making interception more difficult.

In the summer of 2024, Magura V5s were deployed in combined attacks in the Kerch Strait, where decoys provided a distraction while the main units carried out the detonations. By September, the drones were used for mine-hunting missions, where their sensors allowed them to scan the waters without risking crews.

In 2025, the system's use was expanded to include aerial targets. In May, a version armed with SeeDragon missiles attempted to attack two fighter jets. This occurred near Cape Tarkhankut, where a thermal imager recorded the approach and launch. In June, a similar tactic was used against Ka-27 and Mi-8 helicopters. Operators emphasized that the swarm mode with decoys allows for penetration of defenses, with up to six missiles launched simultaneously.

By November 2025, Magura V5s were participating in naval security operations, patrolling approaches to ports. Losses were offset by production, and tactics evolved to the use of false trajectories for concealment. Data on precise results remained classified, but operator feedback confirmed their role in monitoring the waters.

The Magura V5 has become an integral part of the naval arsenal, offering capabilities for medium-range missions within manufacturing constraints. The platform enables surveillance and intervention missions, integrating into common systems. Further development is focused on enhancing autonomy and weapon options.