Ukraine Showcases Magura V7 Drone Boat Built for Air Defense in War With Russia.

Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence displayed the Magura V7 naval drone fitted with Russian-made R-73 missiles during a visit by a foreign delegation in Ukraine. The advanced configuration highlights Ukraine’s progress toward autonomous naval air-defense systems designed to counter Russian aerial threats.

BRUSSELS, October 7, 2025, 14:12 PM (CEST) — According to Army Recognition and open-source intelligence account Clash Report, Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR) showcased the Magura V7 unmanned surface vessel (USV) equipped with two Russian R-73 short-range air-to-air missiles during a visit by a foreign delegation in Ukraine. The demonstration highlighted HUR’s ongoing efforts to transform the Magura V7 into a naval air-defense drone platform capable of detecting and engaging low-flying threats. The presentation highlights Ukraine’s increasing emphasis on autonomous defense innovation amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
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Ukrainian-made Magura V7 unmanned surface vessel armed with two Russian-made R-73 air-to-air missiles displayed in Ukraine during an official visit of foreign military delegations. (Picture source: Picture source Clash Report X account)

The picture shows the Ukrainian-made Magura V7 unmanned surface vessel armed with a pair of R-73 missiles mounted on fixed pylons positioned along the sides of its upper deck. Each missile retains its original aerodynamic design and infrared seeker, confirming their identity as R-73 "Archer" models, developed by Russia’s Vympel design bureau. The pylons appear to be static, meaning that aiming and targeting would depend on the maneuverability of the vessel itself. This concept leverages the R-73’s off-boresight targeting capability and high agility, enabling the missile to lock onto aerial threats even when fired from unconventional surface-based launch angles.

Originally designed for aircraft such as the MiG-29 and Su-27, the R-73 is an infrared-guided, short-range missile capable of engaging targets up to 30 kilometers away. It features thrust-vectoring controls that provide exceptional maneuverability in close-range engagements. Ukrainian engineers have adapted this missile for maritime use by modifying its launch interface, integrating external power and seeker cooling, and linking the weapon to the Magura’s onboard control systems. These modifications enable the drone to employ air-to-air missiles as improvised surface-launched interceptors capable of defending against low-flying helicopters, maritime patrol aircraft, and enemy drones operating over the Black Sea.

The Magura V7 itself represents a significant upgrade over the earlier V5 model. It features a longer hull, enhanced stability, and greater payload capacity, allowing it to carry missile armament without compromising speed or range. The new images also reveal advanced sensor arrays and communication antennas along the vessel’s upper structure, likely supporting electro-optical targeting and secure datalink communications. Ukrainian sources have reported that the Magura V7 can operate at speeds above 75 km/h with an operational range approaching 800 kilometers, making it suitable for both coastal defense and long-distance interdiction missions.

Operational experience gained in recent months confirms that the missile-armed Magura 7 has already been tested in combat conditions during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Ukrainian intelligence units reported the first recorded engagement of an aerial target by a Magura drone in late December 2024, when a modified R-73 was launched against a Russian Ka-29 helicopter operating near occupied Crimea. The missile successfully destroyed the helicopter after launch from a USV of the Magura series, marking the world’s first known instance of an unmanned surface vessel downing an aircraft with an air-to-air missile. Since then, Ukrainian forces have refined the system’s targeting algorithms, seeker alignment, and hull stabilization to increase hit probability against low-flying drones and rotary-wing aircraft supporting Russian naval operations in the western Black Sea.

By integrating R-73 air-to-air missiles onto its unmanned surface vessels, Ukraine has effectively introduced a new dimension to naval warfare. The Magura V7’s ability to engage airborne threats transforms these drones from purely offensive strike platforms into mobile maritime air-defense units. This innovation could complicate Russian air operations over the Black Sea, forcing aircraft and helicopters to operate at higher altitudes and greater distances to avoid potential engagement by missile-armed USVs.

The use of Russian-origin missiles on Ukrainian-developed naval drones carries powerful symbolism as well as operational significance. Once a cornerstone of Russian fighter armament, the R-73 has been repurposed by Ukrainian engineers to counter the very aircraft it was designed to arm. This adaptation reflects Ukraine’s growing expertise in field engineering, systems integration, and rapid innovation under battlefield pressure.

Defense analysts observing the exhibition noted that the R-73-armed Magura V7 may represent the first stage in a broader evolution of autonomous maritime defense systems. Future variants could potentially incorporate Western-supplied short-range missiles or radar-guided interceptors, creating a modular fleet of unmanned vessels capable of executing both defensive and offensive missions in complex littoral environments.

The unveiling of the Ukrainian-made Magura V7 unmanned surface vessel equipped with R-73 air-to-air missiles demonstrates how Ukraine’s defense sector continues to redefine modern naval warfare through ingenuity and adaptability. It signals a strategic shift toward distributed, autonomous maritime defense, one that blends air-defense capability with the flexibility of unmanned systems, reshaping the balance of power over the Black Sea and setting a new precedent for future naval operations.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.