Ukrainian Drones Have Impressed Even Their Own Developers
- 14.11.2026, 17:53
The Magura have learned to fight on land.
The Ukrainian Magura maritime drones, which have already inflicted serious casualties to the Russian fleet in the Black Sea, have been assigned a new role. They are now being used as platforms for launching FPV drones and delivering ground-based robotic systems capable of attacking Russian targets on land, according to Business Insider.
The Magura drones, developed by the Ukrainian defense company UFORCE, have played a crucial role in countering the Russian navy. Thanks to them, Ukraine has been able to strike military ships despite lacking a traditional navy. Attacks by these maritime drones damaged and destroyed a number of Russian vessels, forcing Moscow to relocate a significant portion of its Black Sea Fleet from occupied Crimea.
Now, the capabilities of the Magura extend beyond maritime operations. In August, Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate reported that it had used these drones as carriers for FPV drones to strike ground targets. To do this, they deployed a command ship equipped with the “Podlet” radar system—which detects aircraft, missiles, and drones—as well as a “Parol-4” station for friend-or-foe identification.
The commander of the GUR’s “Group 13” unit, with the call sign “Thirteenth,” stated that Magura drones pose a threat to the occupiers not only at sea but also on land. According to him, this indicates a fundamental change in the nature of the war.
Strikes on Air Defense Systems and Support for Ground Robots
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, in August, drones launched from Magura maritime platforms destroyed a Russian “Pantsir-S1” anti-aircraft missile and gun system. Later that same month, they struck two S-400 launchers and a ground-based antenna used to control “Orion” drones.
There were other instances of maritime platforms being used for land operations during the summer as well. In July, a maritime drone deployed by the 123rd Territorial Defense Brigade delivered a ground robot to the Kinburn Spit to carry out a combat mission.
Ukraine continues to test new ways of using such platforms. According to Oleg Roginsky, founder and CEO of UFORCE, during the September exercises, Magura was used to launch drones, deploy ground robots for a beach assault, and deliver supplies. He did not disclose operational details but noted that maritime drones can launch heavy drones such as the Nemesis, which are capable of traveling long distances deep into enemy territory and attacking, in particular, air defense systems. According to Roginsky, Russian air defense systems were designed to intercept missiles, not heavy drones flying low and at night.
Missile Weapons and Aerial Drones
Naval drones are gradually becoming multifunctional combat platforms. In October, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported that following successful attacks on Black Sea Fleet ships, the Magura’s capabilities had expanded significantly. Now they can not only engage surface targets but also carry missile armaments and aerial drones to strike land-based targets.
Previously, Magura drones had already carried out non-standard missions. In 2024, according to Ukrainian sources, one such drone shot down a Russian helicopter with a missile. Later, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) stated that these platforms were being used to take down Russian fighter jets.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also spoke about the evolution of maritime drones in an address to the British Parliament in March: “We started with simple kamikaze maritime drones. Then we developed drones with turrets capable of shooting down helicopters. Now we have drones that can shoot down Russian fighter jets from the sea. We’ve developed boats that transport other drones. We also have boats that strike land targets from the sea.”
UFORCE has raised $700 million
According to Roginsky, some of the ways the Magura has been used came as a surprise even to the manufacturer: “I didn’t expect this. It is precisely the ingenuity of Ukrainian engineers and Ukrainian soldiers that is the driving force behind all of this.”
UFORCE manufactures maritime and land-based drones, artificial intelligence software, and control systems, and is considered one of Ukraine’s largest defense companies. The company was founded in Ukraine, is headquartered in London, and has major centers in Kyiv and Washington, D.C. Magura has already participated in a number of international military exercises. In addition, the company has developed a new MV7 model for use in British waters and is collaborating with RECONCRAFT, an American manufacturer of specialized boats.
On Thursday, UFORCE announced that it had raised $700 million in a Series A funding round. Investors include the British government and venture capital firms from Silicon Valley. Following this, the company’s valuation reached $6 billion. The funds are planned to be used to expand production in Ukraine and partner countries.
Roginsky believes that the future of naval forces lies in the development of unmanned fleets and autonomous patrol systems. However, in the near future, countries will likely use a hybrid model, combining traditional manned ships with unmanned platforms.