MAGURA V5
| MAGURA V5 | |
|---|---|
 MAGURA V5 on a 2024 stamp of Ukraine | |
| Type | Unmanned surface vehicle |
| Place of origin | Ukraine |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Main Directorate of Intelligence in conjunction with the 385th USV Brigade |
| Production history | |
| Unit cost | $273,000 |
| Variants | See variants |
| Specifications (MAGURA V5) | |
| Mass | less than 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) |
| Length | 5.5 m (18 ft) |
Main armament | Explosive charge up to 300 kg (660 lb) or Sea Dragon surface-to-air missile (modified R-73 air-to-air missile) |
Operational range | up to 800 km (500 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 78 km/h (48 mph) |
Guidance system | GNSS, inertial, visual[1] |
MAGURA (Maritime Autonomous Guard Unmanned Robotic Apparatus V-type)[note 1] is a class of Ukrainian multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicles (USV) developed for use by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine[2] (HUR) and capable of performing various tasks: surveillance, reconnaissance, patrolling, search and rescue, mine countermeasures, maritime security, and combat missions.[3] The Magura V5 was introduced in 2023; the Magura V6P and Magura V7 were added in 2025, the latter being armed with various missiles designed to shoot down enemy aircraft.[4][5]
Development
[edit]HUR signed contracts to design a new USV with private companies who had previously worked with the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in designing USVs, however had their partnerships terminated due to disputes with the SBU over project specifications and budget. A new partnership with HUR was formed that started the project which eventually developed the MAGURA V5.[2]
In November 2022, the Ukrainian government announced the development of a Ukrainian combat surface drone with a range of up to 800 km.[1] The boat was first presented at the International Defence Industry Fair, which took place from 25 to 28 July 2023, in Istanbul, Turkey.[6] On 29 July 2023, a CNN report confirmed that the MAGURA V5 kamikaze boat existed not only as an exhibition model but also as an operational system.[7]
Unlike the Sea Baby used by the SBU, which carries a heavier explosive payload and is primarily used to strike stationary targets such as ships docked in port, the MAGURA V5 is designed for striking warships at sea due to its smaller size and better manoeuvrability.[2]
Both the MAGURA and Sea Baby were inducted into the 385th USV Brigade after its formation as the world's first USV unit in August 2023 although their operatives were still HUR and SBU.[8]
Work on developing a variant armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles began in January 2025. According to the head of HUR, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov: "We use a couple of models [of missiles] on our Magura-7, but the best results [come from] the AIM-9."[5]
Operational use
[edit]In November 2023, in one documented operational use of the drones, one Serna-class landing craft and one Akula-class landing craft docked at a Russian Navy base in Chornomorske, in western Crimea were destroyed.[9]
On 1 February 2024, several MAGURA V5 drones struck and sank the Tarantul-III class missile corvette Ivanovets in the Black Sea near Lake Donuzlav in Crimea.[10]
On 14 February 2024, several MAGURA V5 drones were used to attack and sink the large landing ship Tsezar Kunikov near Alupka in Russian-occupied Crimea.[11] The sinking of the ship has been confirmed by Russian sources.[12][13]
On 5 March 2024, MAGURA V5 drones were used in an attack that sank the patrol ship Sergey Kotov near the Kerch Strait.[14][15]
On 30 May 2024, the HUR claimed the destruction of two Russian boats of the KC-701 Tuna type with the help of Magura V5 strike marine drones.[16][17][18]
On 10 August 2024, it destroyed a Russian KS 701 Tunets high-speed boat near the settlement of Chornomorske.[19]
On 31 December 2024, the HUR reported that a MAGURA V5 adapted to fire R-73 air-to-air missiles shot down a Russian Mil Mi-8 helicopter near Cape Tarkhankut, in western Crimea and damage another, which dropped flares during the attack and eventually managed to return to base.[20]
On 2 May 2025, 50 km (31 mi) west of Novorossiysk, HUR Magura V7 naval drones reportedly shot down two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets using AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles in what was claimed to be the first shoot-down of a jet by a maritime drone. Su-30 "Flanker" jets are estimated to cost $50 million each. Ukrainian Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed that at least three Magura V7 USVs were used, and that while the crew of the first jet successfully ejected and were recovered by a civilian ship in the Black Sea, the second crew was killed.[21][22][23]
Tactical and technical characteristics
[edit]| MAGURA V5 | MAGURA V7 | |
|---|---|---|
| length | 5.5 m (18 ft) | 7.2 m (23.5 ft) |
| mass | Up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) | Less than 1,300 kg (2,800 lb) |
| payload capacity | 300 kg (660 lb)[25] | 650 kg (1,433 lb) |
| main armament | 2× R-73 air-to-air missiles[26] | 2× AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles or 1× machine gun |
| battery autonomy | Up to 60 hours | At least 48 hours or up to 7 days with a generator |
| operational range | 800 km (500 mi)[25] | Up to 1,000 km (620 mi) |
| maximum speed | 42 kn (78 km/h; 48 mph) | 39 kn (72 km/h; 45 mph) |
| cruising speed | 22 kn (41 km/h; 25 mph) | 23 kn (43 km/h; 26 mph) |
It is reported by the Ministry of Digital Transformation that the drone is equipped with an autopilot system, video subsystems, night vision equipment, redundant communication modules, and a combat module. It also includes a ground-based autonomous control station, transportation and storage system, and a data centre.[1]
Variants
[edit]- MAGURA V5 − Original version.
- MAGURA V6P − Multirole unmanned surface vehicle.[4]
- MAGURA V7 − An enlarged version powered by a 270 hp (200 kW) diesel engine and armed with either a turret-mounted machine gun or anti-aircraft missiles, with the preferred configuration being two AIM-9 Sidewinders.[5][24]
See also
[edit]- Sea Baby – USV developed for use by the Security Service of Ukraine
- Marichka – Ukrainian autonomous underwater vehicle
- FL-boat – (German Reich)
Notes
[edit]- ^ Named after Magura, the goddess of war and victory from Slavic neopagan mythology.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Україна розкрила деталі про ударні морські БПА" [Ukraine has revealed details about sea-based air defense missile defense systems]. Мілітарний (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ a b c d Roman Romaniuk (March 4, 2024). "Target and eliminate: How Ukraine's Magura drones devastate Russian ships". Ukrainska Pravda. Archived from the original on March 5, 2024.
- ^ "MAGURA V5 — новий український морський безпілотник" [MAGURA V5 is a new Ukrainian marine drone]. ITC.ua. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ a b "Ukrainian Intelligence Unveils Magura V7 Sea Drone with Air Defense Capabilities". Defense Express. 15 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ a b c Altman, Howard (3 May 2025). "Two Russian Su-30 Flankers Downed By AIM-9s Fired From Drone Boats: Ukrainian Intel Boss". The War Zone. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ "Українські інженери представили морський дрон Magura V5 (фото)" [Ukrainian engineers presented the Magura V5 marine drone (photo)]. Главком | Glavcom (in Ukrainian). 2023-07-26. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ^ 'Faster than anything else in the Black Sea': See Ukraine's latest sea drone (Video with transcript). CNN. 2023-07-28 – via YouTube.
- ^ Sutton, H. I. (2023-08-31). "World's First Specialized Explosive Naval Drone Unit Formed In Ukraine". Naval News. Archived from the original on 2023-08-31. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ^ Altman, Howard (2023-11-10). "Sea Drones Attack Russian Landing Craft In Crimean Port". The War Zone. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Altman, Howard (2024-02-01). "Ukraine Sinks Russian Navy Missile Corvette In Drone Boat Attack". The War Zone. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
- ^ Kirby, Paul (2024-02-14). "Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov sunk off Crimea, says Ukraine". BBC. Retrieved 2024-02-14.
- ^ Chris Panella (March 7, 2024). "A Russian warship's last-resort machine-gun fire wasn't enough to defeat the Ukrainian sea drone assault that sunk it, video shows". Business Insider.
- ^ "Video from the landing ship Caesar Kunikov during the Ukrainian drone attack was released". Ukrainian Military Center. March 6, 2024.
- ^ "Ukrainian sea drones damage Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship near Crimea". Reuters. 2024-03-05.
- ^ Mackintosh, Thomas (2024-03-05). "Ukraine war: Russian Black Sea fleet ship sunk in drone attack, Kyiv says". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-03-05.
- ^ Головне управління розвідки МО України (2024-05-30). "Тунець по-кримськи" від ГУР. Retrieved 2024-07-16 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Ukraine's Defence Intelligence confirms destruction of 2 Russian boats in Crimea, 2 more damaged – video". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ "DIU destroys two Russian boats in Crimea". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2024-07-16.
- ^ "Ukraine's Defence Intelligence fighters destroy another boat near Crimea – video". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Russian Mi-8 Helicopter Shot Down with Missile from Ukrainian Sea Drone". www.defensemirror.com. Retrieved 2025-01-01.
- ^ Fratsyvir, Anna (3 May 2025). "Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian fighter jet in 'world-first' strike, intelligence says". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 3 May 2025.
- ^ Altman, Howard (3 May 2025). "Two Russian Su-30 Flankers Downed By AIM-9s Fired From Drone Boats: Ukrainian Intel Boss". The War Zone. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
- ^ Roman Pryhodko (2025-05-04). "Budanov: Magura drone used AIM-9 missile to shoot down Russian combat aircraft - Militarnyi". Militarnyi (in en_US). Retrieved 2025-05-23.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link) - ^ a b Altman, Howard (15 May 2025). "Our Best Look Yet At Ukraine's AIM-9 Sidewinder-Toting Magura-7 Drone Boat". The War Zone. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Media Reveal Magura V5, the Ukrainian Naval Drone: Features and Specifications". Defense Express. 30 July 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
- ^ Olinynyk, Tetyana (7 May 2024). "Ukrainian Magura drones equipped with anti-aircraft missiles – photo, video". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 18 May 2025.
Further reading
[edit]- Shuster, Simon (2024-08-26). "How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Black Sea". Time. Retrieved 2024-08-27.