New photos show Ukrainian Magura V7 naval drone equipped with surface-to-air missiles
Photo: Magura V7 naval drone (Vitalii Nosach/RBC-Ukraine)
New photos of the Ukrainian Magura V7 unmanned naval vessel have surfaced online. Its main feature is the ability to shoot down aerial targets directly from the sea, reports AP photojournalist Efrem Lukatsky.
Lukatsky shared photos with the caption: "The Magura V7 naval drone from Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, equipped with surface-to-air missiles, sails in an undisclosed location."
Photo: Magura V7 with surface-to-air missiles (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
The Magura V7 is a unique naval drone. In May 2025, it achieved a historic milestone when drones of this type successfully shot down two multirole Su-30 fighter jets. The operation took place in the Black Sea against Russian combat aircraft.
Photo: Magura V7 with surface-to-air missiles (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
At that time, it was reported that the Magura V7 drones are armed with AIM-9 air-to-air missiles, which are usually mounted on fighter jets. The Ukrainian case is notable because these missiles were deployed from a naval platform for the first time, effectively giving the drones surface-to-air defense capabilities.
Photo: Magura V7 with surface-to-air missiles (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
The AIM-9 Sidewinder is an American short-range missile in service since the mid-1950s. It remains in production and has undergone multiple upgrades. Most AIM-9 variants use an infrared homing guidance system.
Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukrainian Magura drones set five historic records during the war. In addition to destroying Russian aircraft, they have successfully targeted enemy ships and helicopters.
Last month, it was announced that Ukraine and Greece would jointly produce unmanned surface vessels. These naval drones are expected to enter Ukraine's list of exportable weapons in the near future.
