Over the past three years, Ukraine has built a powerful arsenal of unmanned and robotic systems — a force that has proven highly effective against russian occupation forces.

The next leap in this innovation strategy is the Magura V7: a naval drone platform capable of targeting enemy aircraft. The New York Times reported that the Magura V7 represents a natural evolution of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine's innovation doctrine.

In early May, the Magura V7 achieved a historic milestone by shooting down two russian Su-30 fighter jets — the first recorded case in military history of a naval drone destroying crewed combat aircraft.

Originally designed to destroy enemy warships, Ukraine's sea drones have rapidly evolved. In response to russia's use of helicopters to target them, Ukrainian engineers reconfigured the system to include surface-to-air missiles, significantly enhancing its combat versatility.

The new-generation Magura drones are multi-role reconnaissance and strike platforms. They can neutralize high-value military targets at sea and in the air and launch smaller kamikaze drones to strike targets deep behind enemy lines.

The full report by The New York Times highlights how Ukraine's Defence Intelligence continues to redefine the battlefield through innovation — turning cutting-edge ideas into proven operational successes.