Ukraine's first naval drones, Magura V1 and V2, were developed in secret starting in spring 2022, but never saw combat. Instead, they served as crucial technology demonstrators — early experimental platforms that laid the groundwork for what would become the world's first operational class of unmanned surface vessels used in naval warfare.
According to Naval News, in a piece authored by renowned maritime warfare analyst H I Sutton, Ukraine's work on uncrewed weaponized boats began shortly after the sinking of the Moskva cruiser by domestically-produced Neptune anti-ship missiles in May 2022. That moment marked both a triumph for Ukrainian missile technology and the launch point for its next revolution at sea — the naval drones.
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Magura V1 was based on a simple 6-meter fishing boat hull, fitted with an outboard motor and a Starlink antenna. After successful testing, development quickly advanced to Magura V2, which featured an inboard engine and a redesigned V-shaped hull — hence the "V" in its name.
These early versions weren't armed but served as prototypes for later models. The first to carry a warhead was Magura V3, which boasted a 150-kg payload and was reportedly ready for serial production.
Sutton's reporting also briefly mentions an experimental Magura V4, though no technical details are provided. The first variant used in combat was Magura V5, deployed in Ukraine's daring October 2022 attacks on russia's black sea fleet.
Notably, Sutton claims that the first naval drone designed to carry air-to-air missiles like the Soviet-era R-73 was the Magura W6. The "W" referred to its Boston Whaler-style hull. Following that, the Magura V7 — equipped with an American AIM-9X Sidewinder — allegedly became the first sea drone in history to shoot down a jet: a russian Su-30.
From the perspective of Defense Express, Sutton's version of events is valuable because it reflects how Western analysts now interpret Ukraine's covert development of USV technology. Even if some details remain unverified by alternative sources, the narrative offers rare insight into the evolution of an entirely new class of maritime weapons.
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