US Army tests UFORCE’s USVs as drone carriers

Uncrewed boats produced by Ukrainian company UForce launched aerial drones during the Bayonet Quest 26 exercise in Michigan.

Magura MV7. Image: UForce

The US Army tested Ukrainian uncrewed surface vessels during the Bayonet Quest 26 exercise in Michigan. According to Defence Blog, the tests involved MV7 uncrewed boats produced by Ukrainian company UFORCE.

UFORCE’s USVs were used as platforms for launching aerial drones. The released footage shows UAVs launching from a special platform installed on the bow of an uncrewed boat.

The Bayonet Quest 26 exercise ran from 26 September to 6 October 2026. During the exercise, the US Army’s 7th Infantry Division, a multidomain command in the Indo-Pacific region, tested autonomous systems and unmanned aerial vehicles.

How the Ukrainian boats were used

As part of the maritime phase, US troops tested the joint use of uncrewed systems and an Mk VI patrol boat. The Ukrainian platforms launched aerial drones directly from the water.

This configuration lets a maritime drone serve as a mobile carrier for reconnaissance or other unmanned systems. According to Defence Blog, this could extend the systems’ surveillance and operational range without bringing a crewed boat closer to a dangerous area.

Magura used in US exercise for the second time

This is the second publicly known case of US forces using Magura family boats in 2026.

In April, Ukrainian uncrewed boats took part in the Balikatan 2026 international exercise in the Philippines. During a combat scenario near Itbayat Island, they helped destroy a decommissioned target ship. Later, UForce confirmed that its platforms had participated in the exercise.