First image of the Naval Magura-7 drone that has demolished combat fighters for the first time in history

First image of the Naval Magura-7 drone that has demolished combat fighters for the first time in history

Last May 2, Ukraine He achieved a historical milestone in the use of war drones by knocking down a Russian hunt SU-30 Flanker with air-air missiles launched from a new unmanned surface vehicle (USV), becoming in it First documented case of a manned aircraft dejected by a Naval drone. Subsequently, The War Zone confirmed with Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov that A second Su-30 Flanker had also been dejected From a maritime drone, using Aire-Aire missiles AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared guided, supplied by the US, in both cases.

The operation was carried out by a Ukrainian Special Operations Unit in coordination with the Ukraine Safety Service (Sbu) and the Defense forces. It took place in international waters from the west of the Black Sea, about 100 km from the Crimea coast. New drones were used Magura-7Naval News has confirmed, an evolution of the model Magura V5modified to carry short-range air-air missiles, and of which you have had news for the first time with this event.

This achievement adds to December 31, 2024, when Ukrainian Special Forces two Mi-8 helicopters destroyed in flight with a magura v5 droneusing a missile R-73 of Soviet manufacture. That attack was the first confirmed in which a naval drone knocked down aircraft. Now, the demolition of the SU-30 confirms that The magura family can also neutralize combat aircraft of fixed and high speed wing.

Until recently, Ukrainian naval drones such as Magura V5 were mainly used In suicidal attacks against Russian ships. However, Magura-7 incorporates Guide systems and launching rails at ascending anglewhich makes it an anti -aircraft platform from the sea.

The integration of the AIM-9 Sidewinder in this type of drone represents A crucial technical advance. Originally designed in the 50s and widely modernized since then, this short -range missile and infrared guided is usually used by fighters such as the F-16 or the Eurofighter Typhoon. Its ability to detect motor signatures makes it effective against moving objectives.

Adapting it for use from a naval drone implies overcoming challenges such as The stabilization of the system in an unstable marine environmentthe integration of infrared follow -up sensors and the orientation of the launch. The successful AIM-9 adaptation by Magura-7 reflects Ukrainian engineering innovation capacity.

It was already known that Ukraine had USV armed with AA-11 Archer missiles, a configuration known as Be devil. Magura V7 is quite different from this, with a wider helmet to house the launch rails, according to the medium.

V7 is essentially An expanded V5 Magura. It measures approximately 8 meters long compared to 5.5 meters of the V5 and share the same design lines, although with a remodeled arc. Ukraine has not facilitated further details about this new USV, but Budanov did confirm that the Defense Intelligence Directorate (Gur) began to install AIM-9 missiles in unmanned vessels in January. ‘We use a couple of missile models in our Magura-7, but the best results come from AIM-9’he said. In the attack against the SU-30 Flanker they were used 3 USV Magura-7but only two of them shot at the Russian airplanes.

The demolition of combat fighters from naval drones supposes A paradigm shift in air combat who will have to adapt, not only Russia, but the armies around the world.