Ukraine Rolls Out MAK Unmanned Surface Vessel for Coastal and River Combat.

Ukraine’s defense industry introduced the MAK unmanned surface vessel at UMEX 2026, positioning it as a multi-role platform for coastal and riverine operations. The system highlights how combat-driven innovation is shaping affordable, autonomous naval tools for surveillance, logistics, and precision missions.

Displayed publicly at UMEX 2026, the MAK is an unmanned surface vessel developed by the Ukrainian company UAdefense, aimed at modern coastal and inland waterway operations. Company representatives described the platform as a modular, low-observable surface drone designed to support surveillance, patrol, light logistics, and precision maritime tasks in contested environments, reflecting lessons drawn from ongoing naval drone operations in Eastern Europe.
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The MAK is a compact Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel developed by UAdefense for coastal and riverine missions, combining modular payloads, autonomous navigation, and multi-channel communications. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The MAK is designed as a compact electric-powered surface platform intended to limit its acoustic and electromagnetic signatures. Its modular architecture allows rapid adaptation to different mission profiles, including the integration of mission-specific payloads, intelligence sensors, FPV configurations, or payloads intended for strike missions. The USV is designed to operate either independently or as part of larger naval systems, including in distributed or swarm-based operational concepts.

Te MAK measures 2.7 meters in length and 1.1 meters in width. Its total weight reaches 140 kilograms when equipped with the battery kit, compared to 98 kilograms without it. The maximum payload capacity is stated at 60 kilograms, enabling the integration of various mission modules. Propulsion is provided by a propeller-based system, allowing a maximum speed of 40 kilometers per hour, while operational range is indicated as between 30 and 50 kilometers depending on configuration and mission profile.

Navigation relies on a combination of sensors and positioning sources incorporating the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), supported by cross-validation mechanisms for positioning data. The system is designed to detect GNSS jamming and spoofing attempts while maintaining autonomous navigation and recovery capabilities without exclusive reliance on external positioning. A day and night video capability is integrated to support mission execution and observation under varying visibility conditions.

Communications are based on a multi-channel architecture combining satellite links, MESH radio, LTE networks, and a fiber-optic cable. These communication methods are implemented with redundancy to ensure continuity in environments subject to electronic warfare pressure. UAdefense highlights dynamic link selection as well as a fiber-optic control mode intended for operations under high electromagnetic constraints, enabling mission execution in GNSS- and radiofrequency-degraded environments.

Command and control functions are supported by a unified mission planning and operator interface, allowing real-time monitoring of telemetry, mission status, and payload data. The MAK is presented as compatible with joint naval command and control architectures, facilitating integration with other unmanned systems and existing naval assets.

The development of the MAK reflects the expertise gained by Ukraine in the field of USVs, shaped by the operational use of surface drones during engagements against units of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. Operations conducted using Ukrainian USVs have demonstrated their ability to conduct asymmetric actions, penetrate layered defensive systems, and generate measurable operational effects, contributing to the maturation of national capabilities in this domain.

Through the MAK, UAdefense illustrates the capacity of the Ukrainian defense industry to design and offer modular USVs suited to a range of operational contexts. The presentation of this surface drone at UMEX 2026 aligns with a broader trend toward the proliferation of USVs, which are increasingly integrated into naval capability development and doctrinal thinking for both maritime security tasks and higher-intensity naval operations.