Robot boats turn deadly as Ukraine arms them with heavy bomber drones

Ukraine has advanced its naval drone capabilities by using uncrewed surface vessels (USVs), specifically the Magura V5, as mobile launch platforms for heavy quadcopter bomber drones. In a notable first, a Ukrainian naval drone boat successfully launched a heavy UAV during a maritime strike on July 1–2, 2025, targeting and destroying key components of the Russian Nebo-M radar system in occupied Crimea. This radar system is integral to Russia’s air defense, linked with S-300 and S-400 missile networks, and includes multiple truck-mounted radar arrays and a command post. The operation involved the drone boat approaching covertly, acting as a communications relay via satellite uplink, enabling remote control of the UAV deep inside enemy territory, which destroyed three critical radar elements. This strike exemplifies Ukraine’s evolving unmanned warfare doctrine, integrating sea-based drone carriers with airborne UAVs to extend operational reach and precision strike capabilities. Since early 2023, Ukraine’s Magura fleet has demonstrated