Ukrainian sea drones set for mass production in United States

Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) developer Uforce has signed an agreement with U.S.-based boatbuilder ReconCraft to begin production of its Magura attack drone boats in the United States, following the first reported combat success of an American-operated drone boat earlier this month.

The deal marks the second known arrangement to manufacture Ukrainian-designed maritime drones at U.S. facilities and is aimed at positioning the companies to secure large-scale procurement contracts with the U.S. Navy.

Under the agreement, Oregon-based ReconCraft will collaborate with Uforce to produce 24-foot Magura drones, with output expected to reach hundreds of units initially and potentially scale to thousands. The vessels are expected to be priced below $500,000 each, significantly cheaper than small anti-ship missiles.

ReconCraft has an established track record supplying vessels to U.S. military and special operations forces, providing a foundation for scaling production.

The programme will be led by Sean Plankey, chief executive of Uforce’s U.S. operations. Plankey previously served as a senior adviser to then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and played a key role in the U.S. Coast Guard’s Force Design 2028 restructuring programme, including helping secure a $25 billion capital expenditure package under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

“This partnership demonstrates what's possible when American manufacturing and combat-proven innovation come together,” Plankey said in a statement. “Working with ReconCraft, we will help ensure these proven autonomous capabilities become available to the U.S.”

In Ukrainian service, Magura sea drones have been widely used in coordinated attacks against Russian naval assets in the Black Sea. Typically equipped with shaped charges and bow-mounted detonators, they have demonstrated effectiveness in sea denial operations and continue to be used to target tankers linked to Russia.

Variants equipped to carry unmanned aerial vehicles or launch missiles have also been deployed for long-range strike missions and air defence roles, with reported operational success.

Uforce’s expansion into the U.S. market will depend on securing Pentagon orders. According to Radio Free Europe, citing two sources, a significant agreement has recently been reached to allow the export of Ukrainian drones to the United States for testing. The move is expected to facilitate joint ventures such as the Uforce–ReconCraft partnership.

By Tamilla Hasanova