Formula 1 engineers join Ukrainian maker of MAGURA sea drones
Formula 1 engineers are increasingly joining UFORCE, the defense technology company behind Ukraine’s MAGURA sea drones, bringing expertise in lightweight materials, sensors and engine optimization to Ukrainian weapons development.
“We have found a new pool of highly skilled engineers whose experience has proved incredibly valuable for Ukraine,” UFORCE CEO Oleg Rogynskyy told Ukrainian tech outlet DOU.
“Formula 1 specialists have started joining us en masse,” he said.
Rogynskyy said their experience working with carbon fiber and composites, sensors and both electric and conventional engines translates particularly well to drone development.
Most importantly, he said, Formula 1 engineers know how to remove every unnecessary gram from a system while keeping it reliable — and are accustomed to a development cycle in which something must be redesigned and improved “by tomorrow.”
“Every time we pair a Formula 1 engineer with Ukrainian talent and give them a common task, real magic happens,” Rogynskyy said.
UFORCE employs more than 1,000 people and operates research and development centers in Ukraine and abroad.
Its products include the MAGURA family of sea drones, which have damaged or destroyed more than 10 Russian vessels during the war, according to UFORCE.
Ukraine’s military intelligence has also used MAGURA drones in operations against Russian aircraft. In December 2024, it said a MAGURA V5 destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter over the Black Sea, while MAGURA V7 drones were later used to shoot down Russian Su-30 fighter jets.