The U.S. Will Begin Mass-producing Ukrainian Magura Maritime Drones

The Pentagon plans to spend tens of billions of dollars.

An American manufacturer will begin production of unmanned boats—developed and tested in combat conditions by Ukraine—for the first time, as the Pentagon seeks to expand its arsenal of autonomous weapons. This is reported by The Wall Street Journal.

The agreement was reached just as the U.S. is beginning to use unmanned naval drones in combat operations following years of testing and development. Earlier this month, U.S. unmanned boats attacked an Iranian submarine and a naval base in the Strait of Hormuz.

The agreement was signed amid efforts by the U.S. and Ukraine to expand their arms trade.

The unmanned boats, known as “Magura,” will be manufactured by Portland-based ReconCraft, which produces boats for special operations forces.

It is noted that a memorandum of understanding between ReconCraft and Uforce, the manufacturer of the “Magura,” was signed at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington last week.

According to company executives, the deal is viewed as a “cooperation agreement” under which both companies will provide materials, equipment, and labor.

ReconCraft co-founder Joe Silkowski stated that the goal is to produce hundreds or even thousands of “Magura” units per year at facilities in Oregon and South Carolina. Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna said:


“This partnership sets an important precedent. I am confident that it will encourage many other companies to follow suit and deepen U.S.-Ukrainian cooperation in the defense industry.”

It is important to note that the Pentagon plans to spend tens of billions of dollars on autonomous systems in the coming years.

The war in Iran, which depleted U.S. stocks of expensive offensive and defensive munitions, highlighted the need for cheaper weapons that can be deployed quickly.

Ukrainian kamikaze maritime drones, such as the “Magura,” have largely forced Russian warships to retreat from the Black Sea. They also struck oil tankers and bridges, and delivered missiles and shells to take out aircraft and ground targets.

Ukraine’s authorization for the production of “Magura” drones in the U.S. is “absolutely crucial,” said Uforce CEO Oleg Roginsky, as it will allow the U.S. to apply the lessons, tactics, and concepts of operations honed over years of war in Ukraine.

According to the company, “Magurs” are 7.6-meter-long high-speed unmanned boats capable of carrying a payload weighing over 770 kg a distance of more than 560 kilometers. These boats, which cost less than $500,000, are designed for strike missions but can also launch UAVs, conduct mine-clearing operations, and tow hydroacoustic systems for detecting submarines.

It is noted that agreements between Kyiv and the United Kingdom, Germany, and Denmark have already led to Ukrainian companies beginning to operate in those countries, as Europe seeks to take advantage of Ukraine’s combat-proven technologies as quickly as possible.

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