MAGURA V5
{{Short description|Ukrainian unmanned boat}}
{{Infobox weapon
| image = Stamp of Ukraine s2086.jpg
| image_size = 260px
| caption = MAGURA V5 on a 2024 stamp of Ukraine
| name = MAGURA V5
| type = Unmanned surface vehicle
| origin = Ukraine
| used_by = Main Directorate of Intelligence in conjunction with the 385th USV Brigade
| production_date =
| unit_cost = $273,000
| is_vehicle = yes
| mass = less than {{cvt|1000|kg|lb}}
| length = {{cvt|5.5|m|ft}}
| vehicle_range = up to {{cvt|800|km}}
| speed = {{cvt|78|km/h}}
| primary_armament = Explosive charge up to {{cvt|200|kg}} or Sea Dragon surface-to-air missile (modified R-73 air-to-air missile)
}}
MAGURA V5 (Maritime Autonomous Guard Unmanned Robotic Apparatus V-type){{NoteTag|Named after Magura, the goddess of war and victory from Slavic neopagan mythology.}} is a Ukrainian multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicle (USV) developed for use by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) capable of performing various tasks: surveillance, reconnaissance, patrolling, search and rescue, mine countermeasures, maritime security, and combat missions.{{Cite web |title=MAGURA V5 — новий український морський безпілотник |trans-title=MAGURA V5 is a new Ukrainian marine drone|url=https://itc.ua/ua/novini/magura-v5-novyj-ukrayinskyj-morskyj-bezpilotnyk/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=ITC.ua|date=26 July 2023}}
Development
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.
In November 2022, the Ukrainian government announced the development of a Ukrainian combat surface drone with a range of up to 800 km.{{Cite web |title=Україна розкрила деталі про ударні морські БПА |trans-title=Ukraine has revealed details about sea-based air defense missile defense systems |url=https://mil.in.ua/uk/news/ukrayina-rozkryla-detali-pro-udarni-morski-bpa/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Мілітарний |language=uk}} The boat was first presented at the International Defence Industry Fair, which took place from 25 to 28 July 2023, in Istanbul, Turkey.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-26 |title=Українські інженери представили морський дрон Magura V5 (фото) |trans-title=Ukrainian engineers presented the Magura V5 marine drone (photo) |url=https://glavcom.ua/techno/devices/ukrajinski-inzheneri-predstavili-morskij-dron-magura-v5-944712.html |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Главком {{!}} Glavcom |language=uk}} 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.{{Cite AV media|title='Faster than anything else in the Black Sea': See Ukraine's latest sea drone |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iv1WbNY-yB0|type=Video with transcript|date=2023-07-28 |publisher=CNN|via=YouTube}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2024/03/4/7444793/|title=Target and eliminate: How Ukraine's Magura drones devastate Russian ships|author=Roman Romaniuk|date=March 4, 2024|website=Ukrainska Pravda|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305140406/https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/articles/2024/03/4/7444793/|archive-date=March 5, 2024|url-status=live}}
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.{{Cite web|title=World's First Specialized Explosive Naval Drone Unit Formed In Ukraine|url=https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/worlds-first-specialized-explosive-naval-drone-unit-formed-in-ukraine/|website=Naval News|date=2023-08-31|access-date=2023-09-01|language=en-US|first=H. I.|last=Sutton|archive-date=2023-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230831123117/https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2023/08/worlds-first-specialized-explosive-naval-drone-unit-formed-in-ukraine/}}
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."
Operational use
File:GUR footage of 1 February 2024 attack on Ivanovets by Group 13.webm footage of MAGURA V5 drones striking Russian corvette Ivanovets on 1 February 2024.]]
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.twz.com/sea-drones-attack-russian-landing-craft-in-crimean-port|title=Sea Drones Attack Russian Landing Craft In Crimean Port|author=Altman, Howard|date=2023-11-10 |access-date=2024-02-03|publisher=The War Zone}}
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.{{cite web |url=https://www.twz.com/news-features/ukraine-sinks-russian-navy-missile-corvette-in-drone-boat-attack |title=Ukraine Sinks Russian Navy Missile Corvette In Drone Boat Attack |author=Altman, Howard|date=2024-02-01 |access-date=2024-02-03|publisher=The War Zone}}
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-68292602|title=Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov sunk off Crimea, says Ukraine|author=Kirby, Paul|date=2024-02-14 |access-date=2024-02-14 |publisher=BBC}} The sinking of the ship has been confirmed by Russian sources.{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/video-russian-warship-crew-last-stand-against-ukraines-sea-drones-2024-3|title=A Russian warship's last-resort machine-gun fire wasn't enough to defeat the Ukrainian sea drone assault that sunk it, video shows|author=Chris Panella|date=March 7, 2024|website=Business Insider}}{{cite web|url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/video-from-the-landing-ship-caesar-kunikov-during-the-ukrainian-drone-attack-was-released/|title=Video from the landing ship Caesar Kunikov during the Ukrainian drone attack was released|date=March 6, 2024|website=Ukrainian Military Center}}
On 5 March 2024, MAGURA V5 drones were used in an attack that sank the patrol ship Sergey Kotov near the Kerch Strait.{{Cite news|title=Ukrainian sea drones damage Russian Black Sea Fleet patrol ship near Crimea |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukrainian-sea-drones-damage-russian-black-sea-fleet-patrol-ship-near-crimea-2024-03-05/|date=2024-03-05 |publisher=Reuters|language=en}}{{Cite news |date=2024-03-05 |title=Ukraine war: Russian Black Sea fleet ship sunk in drone attack, Kyiv says|first=Thomas|last=Mackintosh|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68477318 |access-date=2024-03-05 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
File:GUR footage of 31 December 2024 attack on Mi-8 by Group 13.webm helicopter]]
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.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKE93i6N9dc |title="Тунець по-кримськи" від ГУР |date=2024-05-30 |last=Головне управління розвідки МО України |access-date=2024-07-16 |via=YouTube}}{{Cite web |title=Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence confirms destruction of 2 Russian boats in Crimea, 2 more damaged – video |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/05/30/7458320/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=DIU destroys two Russian boats in Crimea |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/diu-destroys-two-russian-boats-in-crimea/ |access-date=2024-07-16 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US}}
On 10 August 2024, it destroyed a Russian KS 701 Tunets high-speed boat near the settlement of Chornomorske.{{cite web |title=Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence fighters destroy another boat near Crimea – video |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2024/08/10/7469788/ |website=Ukrainska Pravda |access-date=12 August 2024 |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Russian Mi-8 Helicopter Shot Down with Missile from Ukrainian Sea Drone |url=https://www.defensemirror.com/news/38510 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=www.defensemirror.com}}
File:GUR footage of 2 May 2025 shootdown of Su-30 by Group 13.webm
On 2 May 2025, a HUR Magura V5 naval drone reportedly shot down a Russian Su-30SM using a R-73 missile, 50 km west of Novorossiysk. The crew of two ended up in the Black Sea, where a civilian ship later recovered them. HUR claimed it was the first time a maritime drone shot down a jet aircraft.{{Cite web |title= Ukrainian intelligence destroys Russian Su-30 with Magura sea drone in first of its kind strike (video) |author=Oleksandra Bashchenko |date=2025-05-03|url= https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/ukrainian-intelligence-destroys-russian-su-1746268365.html |access-date=2025-05-03 |website=RBC Ukraine |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Fratsyvir |first1=Anna |title=Ukrainian sea drone downs Russian fighter jet in 'world-first' strike, intelligence says |url=https://kyivindependent.com/ukrainian-intelligence-says-sea-drone-downs-russian-fighter-jet-in-world-first-strike/ |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=The Kyiv Independent |date=3 May 2025 |language=en}} A day later, Budanov told the War Zone that three MAGURA V7 drones armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles were used to shoot down two Su-30s.
Tactical and technical characteristics
Some technical characteristics of the drone were published by the Ministry of Digital Transformation in November 2022:
- Length: 5.5 m
- Gross weight: < 1000 kg
- Operating range: up to 400 km
- Range of operation: up to 800 km
- Range: up to 60 hours
- Payload: up to 200 kg, at least one R-73 air-to-air missile.{{Cite web |title=Ukraine uses naval drones with anti-aircraft missiles |url=https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ukraine-uses-naval-drones-with-anti-aircraft-missiles/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Militarnyi |language=en-US}}
- Cruising speed: 41 km/h
- Maximum speed: 42 kt (78 km/h)
- Navigation methods: automatic GNSS, inertial, visual
- Video transmission: up to three HD video streams
- Cryptographic protection: 256-bit encryption
- Cost of production: about US$273,000
It is reported that in addition to the drone itself, equipped with an autopilot system, video subsystems, including night vision, redundant communication modules and a combat unit, it includes a ground-based autonomous control station, a transportation and storage system and a data centre.
Variants
- MAGURA V7 − Air defense variant armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.
See also
- Sea Baby – USV developed for use by the Security Service of Ukraine
- Marichka – Ukrainian autonomous underwater vehicle
- FL-boat
Notes
{{NoteFoot}}
References
{{reflist}}
Further reading
- {{Cite news |last=Shuster |first=Simon |date=2024-08-26 |title=How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Black Sea |url=https://time.com/7013531/sea-drones-how-ukraine-beat-russia-in-the-black-sea/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Time |language=en}}