Ukraine's naval-drone team beat NATO in every exercise scenario

Off the coast of Portugal, a Ukrainian-led "red" team beat a NATO "blue" team in all five naval-drone scenarios of a recent exercise that simulated attacks on ports and ships. The red team included US, British, Spanish and other units. Operators used Magura V7 boats, a class of USVs developed in Kyiv for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance as well as combat and mine-countermeasure roles.

In one scenario the drones simulated the targeting and sinking of a NATO frigate; across the exercise Ukrainians struck the ports and convoys of the simulated adversary. The drills were part of REPMUS/Dynamic Messenger, NATO's Operational Experimentation series, which tests maritime uncrewed systems.

Organizers ran realistic combat conditions, including electronic-warfare interference, jamming, and other countermeasures, and said the tests helped allies learn how to integrate drones and defend against enemy uncrewed systems.

Portugal

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