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Lithuania Eyes Co-Producing Ukrainian Magura Drones—Half to Be Sent to Ukraine

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Vlad Litnarovych
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Lithuania Eyes Co-Producing Ukrainian Magura Drones—Half to Be Sent to Ukraine
MAGURA V5, a Ukrainian multi-purpose unmanned surface vehicle developed for use by the Defense Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, is demonstrated during events on April 13, 2024. (Source: Getty Images)

Lithuania is considering launching domestic production of Ukrainian-designed naval drones under a “1+1” model—where one unit is retained for Lithuania’s defense and the other is donated to Ukraine—according to Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Šakalienė, speaking to Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi on May 6.

The Baltic nation has expressed growing interest in Ukraine’s advanced unmanned systems, particularly strike-capable sea drones and loitering munitions like the Magura drone, which has proven highly effective against Russian naval forces in the Black Sea.

“Magura, in my opinion, is an excellent military product,” Šakalienė told the outlet.

Under the proposed model, Lithuania would finance the production of two weapons systems at a time, donating one to Ukraine and keeping the other.

“In other words, we pay for the production of two units, one of which is transferred to Ukraine while the other remains in Lithuania—but we pay for both,” she explained.

The plan follows Lithuania’s recent allocation of €10 million to support specific Ukrainian defense industry projects.

Šakalienė said Vilnius sees major potential in joint initiatives involving missile-equipped drones, sea drones, and other advanced military technologies.

“We believe that cooperation in certain areas—related to missile drones, sea drones, and other technologies—is truly very promising,” she added.

Just a few years ago, the idea that small, unmanned vessels could challenge heavily armed warships seemed implausible. But Ukraine’s wartime innovation has shifted that paradigm.

Magura sea drones, developed by Ukraine’s defense industry, have already scored significant victories in the Black Sea, forcing much of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to retreat to port.

In a recent standout moment, one Magura drone downed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet—after Ukrainian engineers outfitted the vessel with American-made AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

Earlier, reports emerged that France successfully tested a suicide naval drone, inspired by Ukrainian MAGURA V5 drones, striking a decommissioned barge off the coast of Toulon in a live-fire experiment that underscores the growing interest in unmanned maritime warfare.

The test, part of the French Navy’s POLARIS initiative to prepare for high-intensity conflict, involved a modified jet ski-turned-drone targeting a retired Chaland de Transport de Matériel (CTM) landing vessel. The hull was reinforced with metal plating and surrounded by tires to prevent it from sinking during the test.

“The experiment, which took place against the backdrop of an increasingly unstable international environment, is one of the latest trials conducted by the French Navy to improve crew and ship readiness for high-intensity combat,” said Admiral Nicolas Vaujour, Chief of the French Navy.

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