Until now the only glimpses of Ukraine’s Maritime Autonomous Guard Unmanned Robotic Apparatus V-5 (MAGURA V5) have been from grainy infrared footage posted online by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence’s Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the bomb-laden unmanned surface vessel (USV) attacking Russian warships.
At Eurosatory 2024, however, held in Paris from 17 to 21 June, the Ukrainians brought a real example, which took pride of place at the front of their national stand at the show.
Approached by ESD at the show, Ukrainian officials declined to discuss the MAGURA V5 in detail, but did offer a brochure that contained certain specifications and characteristics of the USV.
According to the brochure, the MAGURA V5 is 5.5 m long with a beam of 1.5 m, has a draft of 0.4 m and a height above the waterline of 0.5 m. The USV’s cruise speed was given as 45 km/h, with a maximum burst speed of 101 km/h, while its range was specified as 960 km and its load capacity as 320 kg.
The GUR’s IR footage has already shown the MAGURA V5’s ability to conduct swarm operations in attacking Russian shipping, while the brochure also noted it has multi-channel satellite communications, can work in a suppressed/jammed electronic warfare environment and has automatic target tracking via the opto-electronic device at the rear of its foredeck.
Beyond the bomb-laden terminal attacks against ships for which it is known, the MAGURA V5 is also stated to be applicable surveillance, patrolling and reconnaissance operations, mine countermeasures missions and search-and -rescue operations.
Additional potential armaments listed for the USV, as an alternative to its explosive payload, were given as machine guns, anti-tank guided munitions and surface-to-air missiles.
The MAGURA V5 brochure said the USV has been “developed using advanced design techniques” and that the “hydrodynamic hull and sleek profile of the V5 allow it to travel covertly with superior manoeuvrability”.
“It is an affordable solution that is easy to launch from any remote location,” the brochure stated, adding that “The unmanned operation of the V5 minimises manpower requirements for missions, reducing potential fatalities when operating in harsh conditions.”
MAGURA V5s have been used by special units working under the GUR to attack numerous Russian naval targets in the Black Sea during the Ukraine War since mid-2023. Russian warships sunk by MAGURA V5 attacks include a Serna-class landing craft and an Akula-class landing craft docked in western Crimea in November 2023, the Tarantul III-class missile corvette Ivanovets near Lake Donuzlav on 1 February 2024, the Ropucha I-class landing ship Caesar Kunikov off Crimea on 14 February 2024 and the Project 22160 patrol ship Sergey Kotov near the Kerch Strait on 5 March 2024. Additional smaller vessels have also been sunk and the Yuriy Ivanov-class signals intelligence ship Ivan Khurs damaged near Sevastopol on 24 May 2023.
