The CEO of UFORCE, a Ukrainian producer ?of attack drones, flew to Tokyo in April with a pitch for Japanese officials and defense contractors: build thousands of our drones to defend yourself and allies.

Days earlier, U.S. troops had used waterborne UFORCE drones to sink a ship during a secretive exercise held where the South China Sea meets the Pacific. And for years, the firm¡¯s Magura surface vessel has helped turn parts of the Black Sea into no-go zones for the Russian navy.

While the maritime geography of East Asia is very different, ¡°the impact is extremely similar,¡± UFORCE CEO Oleg Rogynskyy said.