乌克兰的海军无人艇彻底改变了黑海的海上作战。自俄罗斯全面入侵以来，基辅扩大了无人艇作战规模，使用远程控制的快艇击沉了莫斯科黑海舰队的大约三分之一。Building on this success, Ukraine now employs drones for surface-to-air missile deployment and aerial drone ferrying. Recent footage showed a drone-on-drone water battle between Ukrainian and Russian counterparts. Innovations continue to emerge, including Magura sea drones depositing four-wheeled ground vehicles with machine guns for amphibious assaults.

The cheap, off-the-shelf nature of these systems has lowered barriers for global defense contractors. Twenty-seven Ukrainian companies are actively experimenting with new naval platforms, driving rapid innovation. International interest is surging, with partnerships formed between Ukrainian firms and global defense giants like Kongsberg.

Ukrainian officials report negotiations with Gulf states for drone deliveries. Basing air defenses at sea provides critical detection time against threats like Iranian-designed Shahed drones. As Emma Salisbury notes, the world views Ukraine as the primary example of modern naval drone warfare, proving these systems are powerful tools in modern conflict.