Update: Ukrainian unmanned surface vessels down Russian fast jets

A Magura V7 USV armed with two AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles. (DIU)

According to a press release issued by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) on 3 May, two Russian Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker F multirole combat aircraft were shot down on 2 May by missiles fired from Magura V7 unmanned surface vessels (USVs). The operation, mounted by DIU's Group 13 unit, involved three Magura V7s fitted with AIM-9M Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles repurposed for a surface-to-air role.

DIU indicated that the first aircraft was shot down off the Russian coast, close to the port of Novorossiysk, and that both crew members successfully ejected. This version of events has been corroborated by Russian sources posting on the Telegram social media site, which note that the aircraft was shot down approximately 50 km west of Novorossiysk and that the crew were rescued by a civilian vessel. The second aircraft was reportedly shot down over Crimea, resulting in the deaths of both aircrew.

According to Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the head of DIU, Magura V7 is an air-defence variant of the well-known Magura V5 USV. Details of the new USV are scarce, with only a single image being released so far. This shows a vessel that appears to be substantially longer than the Magura V5, armed with a pair of AIM-9M Sidewinders mounted on rails that can almost certainly be elevated prior to firing.

Also of note is the apparent lack of impact fuzes around the bow, suggesting that in this form at least, the Magura V7 is a dedicated anti-air platform and does not possess a warhead for use against surface targets.