Magura V5 drone: Key asset in Ukraine's Black Sea triumph

Analysts conducted a study on the most influential maritime drones used during the conflict in Ukraine. Results published in the "Political Science and Security Studies Journal" indicate that one piece of equipment—the Magura V5 drone—is the unsung hero of the war in the Black Sea.

The analysts examined the exact impact of maritime drones used in combat on the Black Sea. They considered all constructions available in the Ukrainian arsenal and calculated the number of successful attacks conducted using them.

The study shows that during the Russian-Ukrainian war, the defenders' drones hit 22 warships, 8 of which were completely destroyed. At the bottom of the list of the most effective Ukrainian drones are the Mykola and Mamay constructs, which each struck 2 ships. The Sea Baby drones fared slightly better, hitting 4 ships. However, the undisputed leader is the Magura V5. This weapon hit 14 ships, 8 of which were destroyed.

The "Political Science and Security Studies Journal" details which specific units fell victim to the Magura V5 constructs. The list of confirmed and officially recognised destroyed Russian ships includes:

• reconnaissance vessel Ivan Khurs;
• patrol vessel Sergei Kotov;
• landing craft D-144 Serna;
• landing craft D-295 Akula;
• missile ship Ivanovets;
• landing ship Caesar Kunikov;
• patrol vessel Sergei Kotov;
• cutter RIF-75.

The impressive offensive capabilities of Magura V5 drones are attributed, among other things, to the presence of R-73 missiles, added to these constructs as part of recent upgrades. It is also worth noting that the Russians have recently admitted they do not know how to defend against the threat posed by the Magura V5 drones.

The defenders usually conduct attacks after dark, when visibility is much worse than during the day. For the Russians, this is a significant problem they cannot solve. Consequently, the Black Sea Fleet recently commissioned the Russian company Laboratory PPSH to produce, among other things, thermal imaging systems for machine guns. These are intended to enable the Russian army to conduct more effective surveillance of drones at night and generally have any possibility of defence.

The Magura V5 drones, which wreak havoc among Russian ships, are popular constructs with a length of about 5.5 metres and a width of 1.5 metres. Although they are relatively large in size—due to the lack of appropriate tools in the Russian Federation's arsenal —they are still difficult for the aggressor's army to detect.

Thanks to their size, the Magura V5 has a large payload capacity, rated at 320 kilograms. Additionally, the mobility of these drones is also significant. The construction can accelerate to 77 km/h (42 knots). This is another advantage that makes it difficult to detect and shoot down this surface unit when approaching an attack.