Back in November 2022, the Ukrainian government announced the development of a Ukrainian combat unmanned surface vehicle with a range of about 800 km.
It is noteworthy that the Security Service of Ukraine was the first agency in Ukraine to express interest in developing unmanned surface vehicles. Initially, the Security Service of Ukraine collaborated with a private company to develop its first-generation drones. However, later on, it began independent development and created the Sea Baby. The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense took advantage of the services of the initial drone developer, which ultimately led to the emergence of the "Magura," reports RBC Ukraine.
This drone was first presented at the International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF) 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey, held from July 25 to 28, 2023.
The following day, on July 29, 2023, CNN aired a report confirming that the Magura V5 kamikaze boat exists not only as an exhibition model but also as a fully operational system ready for deployment.
Magura V5 (Maritime Autonomous Guard Unmanned Robotic Apparatus) V-type, also known as "Magura," is a Ukrainian multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicle developed for the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
This drone is capable of performing surveillance, reconnaissance, patrolling, search and rescue operations, mine countermeasures, and fleet protection, but it is primarily known for its strike role. According to open sources, the following characteristics are known:
Length: 5500 mm or 5.5 m
Width: 1500 mm or 1.5 m
Total weight: 1000 kg
Payload: 320 kg
Operational range: up to 400 km
Range: up to 800 km
Autonomy: up to 60 hours
Cruising speed: 41 km/h
Maximum speed: 78 km/h
Navigation methods: automatic GNSS, inertial, visual Video transmission: up to three HD video streams
Cost of the complex: 10 million hryvnias
The hydrodynamic hull and smooth profile allow the drone to move stealthily and maneuverably, making it easy to launch from any remote location. Another advantage of the "Magura" is that it does not require complex infrastructure for launching. The control console for this maritime drone appears quite compact, no larger than a modern laptop in terms of surface area.
Moreover, only a few people are needed to operate the drone, including the operator, and it does not require much space. Additionally, special platforms (slips) are not required for launching the boat into the water, although its weight is approximately 1 ton.
Targets
The first target of these unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) developed by the Main Intelligence Directorate was the Russian reconnaissance ship "Ivan Khurs." On May 24, 2023, it was successfully attacked by three drones approximately 140 km northeast of the Bosporus Strait. This was a significant loss considering the presence of only three such Project 1241.1 vessels in the Russian Black Sea Fleet and their armament.
In addition, on the night of February 1, 2024, six units of Magura V5 attacked the Russian missile boat "Ivanovets." It sank, resulting in the loss of all crew members (approximately 40 people). As stated by Main Intelligence Directorate representative Andriy Yusov at the time, Russia had only three such boats.
This year, on February 14, a large landing ship "Caesar Kunikov" was sunk near Alupka. The successful mission to destroy this landing ship was carried out by the special forces of "Group 13" of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, using Magura V5 drones. It is worth noting that this large landing ship was one of the newest Russian vessels.
And finally, the Russian patrol ship of project 22160 "Sergey Kotov." Last year, in September, Ukrainian fighters managed to damage this corvette. But this night, Magura V5 drones near the Kerch Strait finally destroyed one of the youngest such ships in the enemy fleet. In addition, the enemy suffered losses among the personnel, which are still being clarified.
