United States Launches Full-Scale Production of a Copy of Ukraine’s Magura V7 Drone

Next-Generation Unmanned Vessels: The Variant 7

According to Главком: The United States is scaling up industrial production of a new class of unmanned surface vessels. Blue Ops, the maritime division of American defense firm Red Cat, has announced the start of mass manufacturing of the Variant 7 (V7) naval drone. According to a report by Glavcom, citing Defense Express, the new drone is a direct replica of Ukraine’s Magura V7-a system whose developers collaborated with U.S. engineers during the project’s early stages.

Blue Ops President Barry Hinkley stated that 'there is already a demand for this type of weapon, and this model was engineered for mass production and configuration to meet the objectives of our clients.'

Development support for the naval drone came from Hodgdon Shipbuilding, a company founded in 1816. Defense Express further notes that the V7 naval drone can fairly be called a copy of Ukraine’s Magura V7. The published technical specifications left no doubt about this resemblance.

Strategic Expansion in Security Technologies

It is worth noting that Red Cat entered the naval drone market in May 2025, emphasizing its partnership with a manufacturer whose designs are tested daily in real combat conditions.

As a result, the new Variant 7 (V7) drone production reflects America’s growing ambitions in unmanned maritime technology and underscores the significance of international collaboration in defense innovation.

The ramp-up of Variant 7 unmanned vessel manufacturing may signal a strategic U.S. advance in security and defense technologies, driven by modern maritime challenges. Cooperation with Ukrainian developers highlights the importance of global partnerships in creating new defense solutions that could significantly shift the balance of power in conflict zones.

In a related development, a new agreement has emerged for the production of Ukrainian drones in Canada, further illustrating the international collaboration in defense technology. This initiative not only reinforces the strategic partnerships between nations but also highlights the growing demand for advanced unmanned systems. To learn more about this significant defense deal, visit the details of the Canadian drone production agreement.