Die Welt says Ukraine’s military tech innovation is outpacing Russia

The report focused on Ukrainian company MAC HUB and its engineering division, MAC Construct, which recently demonstrated a coordinated drone and naval warfare system for foreign journalists near the Dnipro River.

According to Welt, Ukraine is increasingly emerging as a global leader in military technology and unmanned systems despite relying heavily on Western military aid just a few years ago. Ukrainian-made defense solutions are now drawing interest abroad, including from countries in the Middle East.

“Ukraine is defending itself against Russian aggression with innovative drones and other weapons systems, and this strategy is now working so well that some are already talking about a turning point in the war,” journalist Alfred Hackensberger wrote for Welt.

One of the key developments highlighted in the report is MAC Mission Control, a battlefield coordination platform developed jointly by engineers and Ukrainian military personnel. The system is designed to connect multiple combat platforms into a single operational network, allowing centralized real-time coordination of drones and naval systems.

Welt described the combination of naval drones and interceptor drones as a technological and tactical innovation in modern warfare. The systems are intended to support Ukraine’s layered air defense while also expanding its maritime strike capabilities.

The publication also emphasized the unusually close cooperation between Ukrainian engineers and frontline military units.

MAC Construct works directly with the “Black Sea Legion,” a special operations maritime unit within Ukraine’s military intelligence structure. According to the unit’s commander, identified only by the callsign “Ninth,” direct battlefield feedback dramatically accelerates weapons development.

“Direct exchange between manufacturers and the military maximally speeds up development and product quality,” he told Welt.

The report highlighted the Katran X1.2 naval drone, a multi-purpose unmanned surface vessel capable of carrying kamikaze payloads, short-range R-73 missiles, and additional drones.

During the demonstration, the vessel reportedly carried 27 MAC Dead Fly interceptor drones. The AI-assisted interceptors can independently identify targets and reach speeds of up to 380 kilometers per hour, which developers say is sufficient to destroy Iranian-designed Shahed drones widely used by Russia against Ukraine.

Engineers are now working to increase the interceptor’s speed to 450 kilometers per hour at the request of Ukrainian forces.

Welt also noted that both the naval drone and interceptors can be operated remotely from a mobile command center using specialized control systems and virtual-reality interfaces.

According to the report, Ukraine’s broader wartime strategy increasingly relies on rapid technological adaptation, AI-assisted battlefield coordination, and constant cooperation between engineers and combat units.