Ukrainian defense company UFORCE has entered into an agreement with U.S. shipbuilder RECONCRAFT to produce Magura naval drones in the United States. The manufacturing will take place in Oregon and South Carolina, with plans to build hundreds or potentially thousands of units annually.
The Pentagon is currently purchasing 2,000 attack UAVs from a Ukrainian manufacturer, and American shipyards are preparing to construct vessels designed in Ukraine. Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a large-scale drone deal with the United Kingdom, which seeks to acquire Ukrainian drone expertise while providing access to Storm Shadow cruise missiles.
The Magura drones have gained international attention due to their effectiveness in operations in the Black Sea, where they have contributed to pushing much of Russia's Black Sea Fleet away from the Crimean Peninsula. The capabilities of the Magura drones have expanded to include aerial drone launches, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine sonar towing. The Magura V7 variant is capable of engaging helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
Recent operations involving Ukrainian drone forces have targeted various Russian vessels around Crimea, with 116 vessels attacked by July 14. A new phase of operations has extended further into the Black Sea, resulting in strikes on 20 additional vessels, including oil and gas tankers. These actions aim to disrupt critical trade routes for the Kremlin's war economy and have led to fuel shortages and a state of emergency in Crimea.
Throughout the conflict, over 20 Russian warships and one submarine have been significantly damaged or sunk, including the flagship missile cruiser Moskva and the patrol ship Sergey Kotov, which was destroyed by Magura V5 drones. The Russian navy's control over the Black Sea has diminished, with warships now operating from distant ports due to the ongoing threat of drone strikes. Ukraine anticipates more complex strikes in the future, prompting Western interest in the technology behind these successes.