UFORCE Seeks Formula 1 Engineers for Faster, Lighter MAGURA Naval Drones

Oleg Rogynskyy, chief executive officer of UFORCE, said Formula 1 specialists have started coming to the company 'en masse.' He said engineers accustomed to shedding excess weight while preserving reliability bring skills that transfer directly into naval drone design. Racing engineers routinely redesign components quickly without sacrificing dependability, a balance UFORCE says matches requirements for combat drones operating in harsh environments.

Development teams are focusing jointly on engine efficiency and composite materials used across multiple drone types, according to the report. They are also balancing weight against energy consumption, available computing power and the operational range required for each mission. UFORCE pairs the new hires with existing Ukrainian engineers to jointly develop faster, lighter combat systems.

UFORCE operates research centers in the United Kingdom and the United States and partners with ReconCraft on engineering and manufacturing. Working outside Ukraine lets its engineers design for harsher ocean conditions, including larger waves common across the Atlantic and Pacific. Those conditions require sturdier vessels reinforced with Kevlar, along with distinct navigation, control and communication systems for each environment. Some engineering solutions built for these tougher conditions are later adapted for systems developed specifically for use inside Ukraine.

The hiring search extends beyond motorsport. UFORCE has also approached Ukrainian engineers working at major computing and defense firms, including OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Anduril and Palantir. This foreign structure allows specialists to support Ukrainian defense projects without relocating their families. UFORCE currently employs more than 1,000 people worldwide, with most staff still based inside Ukraine despite expanding international operations.

Software remains central to its strategy. Different unmanned platforms share one underlying software layer across all equipment types and systems, and engineers integrating hardware, autonomy, sensors and computing systems must work across multiple platform types built for very different combat environments.

Its product lineup spans MAGURA naval drones, the Nemesis and R18 air platforms, and several active ground robotic systems. These systems have together completed more than 150,000 combat missions, while MAGURA drones have reportedly struck more than a dozen Russian vessels. In May 2025, MAGURA V7 drones fitted with US-made AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles reportedly downed two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets over open water. That marked the first documented case of a sea drone destroying a manned combat aircraft using guided missiles fired from water.

Rogynskyy said the company ultimately wants to unify land, sea, air and counter-drone systems under one shared software framework entirely.

Editor's Summary UFORCE is turning to Formula 1 engineering expertise as it seeks lighter, faster and more durable MAGURA naval drones, while recruiting Ukrainian engineers from major technology and defense companies. The company says its unmanned systems have completed more than 150,000 combat missions, and its MAGURA drones have reportedly struck more than a dozen Russian vessels. UFORCE also wants to bring land, sea, air and counter-drone systems under a single software framework.