Naval Drones in the Sky: How Ukraine’s Magura Fleet Is Redefining Air Superiority in Coastal Warfare
Ukraine’s MAGURA programme shows how distributed seaborne air denial might change coastal warfare assumptions. This InfoFlash defines this concept, tracks MAGURA V5 and V7 development and examines the twin shoot-downs of Russian SU-30SM fighters and Mi-8 helicopters. By pairing low-signature hulls to R-73 or AIM-9 seekers and feeding them target data from the Delta cloud, Kyiv fielded surface craft that can outmatch aircraft whose unit cost outweighs the boats by almost 100:1. Findings indicate inverted cost-exchange ratios, condensed kill chains, and new risks for patrol routes across narrow seas. The paper argues that littoral states should replicate this networked model with off-the-shelf sensors and surplus missiles, shifting budgeting priorities from frigates and fighter wings to expendable nodes and shared data links. Recommended actions include modular procurement, joint training that integrates missile-armed USVs, reinforced ship defences, and tighter controls on seeker heads and autonomy software before proliferation broadens the threat in coming years.