The US has deployed Ukrainian Magura V5 maritime drones for the first time during exercises in the Philippines — media reports
This has been reported by Bloomberg, whose journalists obtained video evidence of the attack.
A Magura unmanned surface vehicle rammed into the target vessel. This marked the first use of drones of this class outside the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
The Magura V5 was developed by the Ukrainian company Uforce. Ukrainian forces have repeatedly used these maritime drones to successfully attack vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. In total, during the major conflict, according to the company’s CEO Oleg Roginsky, around ten Russian military ships were sunk with the help of the Magura.
Experts believe that maritime drones could play an increasingly important role in potential conflicts in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly around Taiwan. Their advantages include their relatively low cost and their ability to operate in high-risk areas without endangering crews.
According to Bloomberg, the US, China, Japan and other countries are actively developing and testing surface and underwater unmanned systems. The US military predicts that by 2030, thousands of small maritime drones could be deployed in the Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, Oleg Roginsky has stated that Uforce is already in talks with several countries in the region regarding the supply of the Magura and is considering opening at least two manufacturing plants in Asia.
The Magura V5 drone: what is known about it
The Magura V5 is a multi-purpose maritime drone. It is capable of conducting reconnaissance, patrolling, search and rescue operations, mine countermeasures, naval fleet protection and combat missions.
Ukraine first unveiled the maritime UAV at a defence exhibition in Turkey in July 2023.
It is 5.5 m long and 1.5 m wide. Its maximum speed exceeds 77 km/h. The drone can carry a payload of up to 320 kg and operate within a radius of 830 km.
During the full-scale war, Ukraine has been actively using Magura V5 drones to attack Russian targets. For example, on 31 December 2024, thanks to a Magura drone, special forces from the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence destroyed two Russian Mi-8 helicopters.
Using these same strike drones, the Group 13 special forces unit destroyed the missile ship ‘Ivanovets’, the large landing ship ‘Caesar Kunikov’, the corvette ‘Serhiy Kotov’ and the high-speed patrol boat ‘Mangust’ in the first half of 2024 alone.
And on 3 May 2025, the Ukrainian military became the first in the world to destroy a Russian Su-30 fighter jet with a strike from a Magura maritime drone.
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