Ukraine’s new Magura W6P naval drone patrols 1000 km, offering longer range and smarter sea reconnaissance, Militarnyi reports. This latest model shifts from strike operations to focus on maritime patrol and intelligence gathering. Militarnyi’s correspondent visited a closed presentation of the new maritime robotic system, recently organized by Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence agency.

Magura W6P naval drone patrols 1000 km with enhanced stability and sensors

Magura W6P replaces kamikaze capabilities with advanced reconnaissance systems and an extended operational radius from 800 km to 1000 km. Unlike its predecessor Magura v5, which reached speeds up to 50 knots, the W6P has a top speed of 36 knots and cruises at 21 knots powered by a 200-horsepower Suzuki DF200 gasoline engine. This change favors endurance over speed for longer patrols.

The drone features a unique trimaran hull with two outriggers, increasing stability at sea and reducing side rolling during waves or movement. This design also expands the deck width to 2 meters, providing space for mounting equipment such as launch containers for strike FPV drones, although the W6P itself no longer performs kamikaze attacks. The full loaded weight is 1,900 kg, including a 400 kg payload capacity.

Advanced radar, optical systems, and satellite communications enhance reconnaissance

Magura W6P is equipped with a gyro-stabilized optical station featuring day and thermal imaging channels. The drone’s onboard Furuno radar detects ships up to 30 kilometers away and large tankers up to 60 kilometers, though the low antenna height may reduce this range. Smaller boats can be detected within 7 kilometers.

Additionally, the drone uses a multichannel satellite communication system to maintain control despite enemy electronic warfare attempts.

Magura W6P part of Ukraine’s growing naval drone defense system

Ukraine’s naval forces and developers are working to integrate unmanned systems like Magura W6P into a comprehensive maritime defense network. These drones will patrol, locate, and help neutralize threats in Ukraine’s waters.

Ukrainian forces launched a successful maritime drone strike overnight on 2 July, destroying a high-value Russian Nebo-M radar complex near the village of Mayak on northwestern Crimea’s Tarkhankut Cape. The assault, captured on video and confirmed through satellite imagery, further highlights Ukraine’s evolving drone capabilities and further depletes Russian air defense systems on the occupied peninsula.

Footage reveals advanced maritime drone tactics

According to Krymsky Veter, a Ukrainian military-linked Telegram channel, Ukrainian naval drones carried out the attack, striking two Nebo-M radars and their command cabin. Footage, shared by the Krymskyi Veter and X account @bayraktar_1love, shows a quadcopter launch from a maritime drone platform and dropping munitions directly on their targets — a capability that had not been publicly demonstrated before.

The channel did not mention the unit responsible for the operation, but the video footage features the emblem of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, along with insignia that may belong to the 73rd Naval Special Operations Center or the Special Operations Center South — Ukraine’s naval spetsnaz unit within its Special Operations Forces (SSO). 

The @bayraktar_1love’s version of the footage includes drone launches:

Russian milbloggers express frustration

Krymsky Veter shared a screenshot from a Russian milblogger channels reacting to the incident on 2 July, reading:“We don’t want to comment on today’s attack on Tarkhankut, because we’d have to swear,” indicating clear frustration among Russian sources.

The source did not specify the target or results but stated that Ukrainian drones were reportedly launched from a maritime drone, and that a relay transmitter over the sea was extending the signal. It also noted the drones allegedly operated on 700–900 MHz frequencies, and hinted on the incompetence of Russian electronic warfare system operators who failed to jam the incoming drones, asking:

“Turns out (or didn’t turn out) that EW systems with frequencies of 1200–1600 MHz don’t neutralize them? Maybe because it’s 5 watts per band? Or maybe it has another purpose?”

Nebo-M system destroyed near Mayak village

Krymsky Veter provided further detail the next day, 3 July, confirming the destruction of the Nebo-M complex near Mayak village. The Nebo-M is a mobile radar system capable of detecting aerodynamic and ballistic objects at medium and high altitudes. The complex includes the meter-band radar module Nebo-SVU, the decimeter-band module Protivnik-GE, and a command cabin — all reportedly eliminated in the strike. Additionally, the system may also include a centimeter-band radar.

According to later update by Krymsky Veter, Ukrainian forces employed naval drones and strike UAVs “Lazar”. A 55Zh6M “Nebo-M” radar system was destroyed, consisting of three components:

• a meter-band radar module 55Zh6M “Nebo-M”;
• a decimeter-band radar module 55Zh6M “Nebo-M”;
• the command and control cabin of the 55Zh6M “Nebo-M” system.

The equipment is estimated to cost around $100 million, underlining the significance of the target. The detection radius of the Nebo-M complex spans up to 600 km, with the ability to track up to 200 targets simultaneously.

A later update from Krymsky Veter, citing satellite imagery, confirmed burn marks on the eastern outskirts of Mayak village, matching the location of the destroyed radar complex.

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Ukrainian military intelligence reported that its drones successfully hit five valuable components of Russia’s S-400 Triumf air defense system during a covert operation in occupied Crimea. The attack was carried out by the elite Prymary (“Ghosts”) unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) and targeted critical radar systems and a missile launcher. The agency did not share the details of the operation, but the short range of FPV drones suggests that those may have been launched from a maritime carrier drone, like in previous similar operations.

Operation by HUR’s Prymary hits S-400 system

On 26 June, Ukraine’s HUR announced that its special unit Prymary executed a drone attack that damaged or destroyed key components of the Russian S-400 system in Crimea. HUR stated:

“Prymary returns: HUR warriors strike enemy air defense systems in Crimea.”

The operation focused on high-value and technically advanced elements of the S-400. The components targeted included two 92N2E multifunction radar stations and two 91N6E detection radars, along with one S-400 missile launcher.

According to HUR, this targeted strike further weakens Russia’s ability to control the skies over the occupied peninsula.

Video footage released by HUR showed the FPV drone strikes hitting their intended targets.

Functionality of S-400 radars hit

As reported by Militarnyi, the 92N6E radar units are responsible for target detection, tracking, and missile guidance, capable of tracking up to 100 targets and guiding as many as 72 missiles simultaneously. The 91N6E radars, also struck during the operation, are used for long-range detection and target assignment within the missile complex.

The S-400 missile launcher reportedly hit in the attack was believed to be armed with missiles at the time.

S-400’s image continues to deteriorate in Ukraine war

Originally introduced as a successor to the Soviet-era S-300 system, Russia promoted the S-400 Triumf as one of the most powerful air defense systems in the world. Russia has actively exported the system and spread propaganda emphasizing its effectiveness.

However, the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has repeatedly challenged those claims. Ukrainian drone operations in Russian-occupied Crimea have exposed vulnerabilities in the S-400 system.

According to open-source intelligence group Oryx, Ukrainian forces have visually confirmed the destruction of at least 18 S-400 launchers, 3 radars, and 3 tractor vehicles used in the complex since the all-out war began.

Ukrainian defense forces have destroyed two high-value Russian radar systems — the Buk-M3 system’s anti-air radar and a Zoopark counterbattery radar — in targeted FPV drone strikes, according to official reports and video footage, Militarnyi reports.

UAV regiment strikes Buk-M3 radar

The 14th Separate UAV Regiment of Ukraine’s Drone Forces reported that it struck a radar system belonging to a Russian Buk-M3 air defense system. The radar, identified as the 9S36M Viking, was hit with two FPV drones.

The attack reportedly rendered the radar nonfunctional and immobile. Following the strike, footage was released by Ukrainian military units confirming the precision hit on the Russian radar equipment.

Zoopark radar destroyed mid-deployment

In a separate operation, the Ukrainian unit UA_REG TEAM reported hitting a Russian Zoopark-1 counterbattery radar, also with an FPV drone. The strike took place during the deployment of the radar, with the drone impacting directly into the antenna array of the 1L219 Zoopark system.

The published video shows the moment of impact. According to the unit, the hit caused such extensive damage that a full replacement of the radar components would be required for any potential restoration.

Russian radar losses continue to mount

Citing the OSINT project Oryx, tracking visually confirmed equipment losses, current Russian losses include 24 radar reconnaissance stations of the 1L219/1L261 Zoopark/M types. Additionally, 11 units of the low-altitude radar detection systems 9S36M “Viking” have now been lost, with six belonging to Buk-M2 systems and five to Buk-M3 systems.