Share Source: Defense Express
American defense company Red Cat and its maritime division Blue Ops have commenced full-scale serial production of the Variant 7 (V7) unmanned aerial vehicles, which are essentially a replication of the Ukrainian Magura V7. Despite the evident origin, the manufacturer now presents the technology as its own invention, as reported by Defense Express.
Key takeaways:
- American defense company Red Cat has started producing Variant 7 (V7) drones, similar to the Ukrainian Magura V7.
- The manufacturer emphasizes that the drones were designed and manufactured in the USA and comply with national security standards.
USA Creates a Copy of the Ukrainian Magura V7 Drone
As stated by the division’s president, Barry Hinckley, this model was developed “for mass production and configuration that aligns with the tasks facing our clients.”
Furthermore, company releases consistently highlight that the drone was “designed, built, and assembled in the United States.”
From the perspective of Defense Express, the V7 maritime drone can be fairly called a copy of the Ukrainian Magura V7, at least its prototypes/early versions. This is because when Red Cat entered the maritime drone market in May 2025, they explicitly spoke about collaboration with a manufacturer whose developments are tested daily in real combat conditions. The published technical specifications of the maritime drone left no doubt that it was indeed the Magura V7.
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According to experts, the final serial modification may still differ from the Ukrainian original due to specific details and internal components.
For instance, Red Cat explains that their V7 maritime drone is equipped with an American complex of autonomous control, management, communication, and mission execution systems, as well as components that meet internal US national security standards.
Concurrently, it is noted that the Americans are fully replicating the Ukrainian modularity approach. Specifically, to counter long-range strike drones, the American V7 will feature the intelligent Bullfrog turret. Additionally, the drones will integrate autonomous swarm control systems from the acquired company Apium Swarm Robotics.
By engaging the firm HADDY and utilizing 3D printing, the manufacturer expects to double the production rate of the equipment, analysts observe.
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