US and Ukraine Transform Magura Naval Drones into AI-Powered Shahed Interceptors

American defense technology provider Red Cat Holdings has announced a strategic partnership to integrate the Bullfrog autonomous turret onto the Variant 7 maritime drone, a US-produced version of Ukraine’s Magura V7.

According to a report by Defense Express on March 4, the initiative aims to provide a mobile, cost-effective solution for intercepting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and engaging surface targets.

The project is being spearheaded by the Red Cat Futures Initiative, a consortium designed to rapidly deploy advanced technologies to modern battlefields. Allen Control Systems (ACS), the developer of the Bullfrog turret, has officially joined the group to evaluate the system’s performance on maritime platforms operated by Blue Ops, a subsidiary of Red Cat.

According to the CEO of ACS, as cited by Defense Express, the partnership addresses a critical gap in modern defense: “The United States and its allies are looking for cost-effective and scalable counter-drone systems that provide a new level of protection at the move and at the edge.”

The integration is expected to allow maritime drones to perform increasingly complex missions, moving beyond one-way suicide strikes toward persistent multi-role operations.

The Bullfrog turret is an AI-driven “smart” system designed to neutralize aerial threats, specifically those similar to the Shahed-type loitering munitions. Key technical specifications include:

• Weapon compatibility: supports M240, M2, M230, and M134 machine guns, with modular options for laser systems;

• Performance: effective engagement range of up to 800 meters with a firing rate of approximately 850 rounds per minute;

• Autonomy: high-speed processing to identify and track targets with minimal human intervention.

The platform for this system, the Variant 7 (Magura V7), boasts a range of 800 nautical miles (over 1,400 km) and a top speed of 40 knots (approx. 74 km/h). According to Defense Express, the base cost of the vessel is estimated at $700,000, excluding the modular payload, which can reach up to 650 kg.

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While the Bullfrog has yet to undergo combat testing in Ukraine, the concept of armed naval drones has already been pioneered by Ukrainian forces. Defense Express notes that the Security Service of Ukraine previously debuted a new generation of Sea Baby drones equipped with the “Tavriya 14.5” stabilized combat module, featuring a 14.5 mm heavy machine gun.

The US-led adaptation of the Magura V7 utilizes the MOSA (Modular Open Systems Approach) architecture. This allows for semi-autonomous control and the potential for “swarming” tactics, where multiple drones operate in coordination.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to deepen defense cooperation with Japan by sharing battlefield-tested technologies, including sea drones and interceptor UAVs developed during the war with Russia. In an interview with Kyodo News, he noted that Ukrainian naval drones had played a key role in driving Russia’s Black Sea Fleet away from Ukraine’s coastline.

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