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An American company will begin producing Ukraine-designed, combat-proven drone boats in the United States for the first time, reflecting the Pentagon's push to expand its autonomous weapons capabilities, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
The agreement comes as the United States starts deploying sea drones in combat after years of development, the report said.
Earlier this month, as a Middle East cease-fire unraveled, American drone boats carried out a kamikaze attack on an Iranian submarine and naval facility on the Strait of Hormuz, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The partnership also aligns with growing U.S.-Ukraine defense cooperation.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently said he would consider allowing Ukraine to produce American Patriot missile interceptors, while broader efforts to tap Ukraine's defense expertise have advanced more slowly.
ReconCraft, a builder of boats for special operations forces based in Portland, Oregon, will manufacture Ukraine's Magura drone boats under a memorandum of understanding signed with Uforce at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington last week.
The companies described the arrangement as a "teaming agreement," combining resources, equipment and personnel.
ReconCraft co-founder Joe Silkowski said production could eventually reach hundreds or thousands of Maguras annually at facilities in Oregon and South Carolina.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
"This partnership sets an important precedent," Ukrainian Ambassador Olga Stefanishyna said.
"I am confident it will encourage many other companies to follow its example and deepen U.S.-Ukraine defense industrial cooperation," she added.
The 25-foot Magura can carry more than 1,700 pounds over 350 miles and typically costs under $500,000, depending on configuration.
In addition to strike missions, it can launch aerial drones, clear mines and tow sonar systems for submarine detection.
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