Fiber-optic drones: can they change Russian-Ukrainian war?

Contents

1. What are fiber optic drones and how they work

2. Disadvantages of fiber optic drones

3. Advantages of fiber optic drones

4. Russian fiber optic drones

5. Ukrainian fiber optic drones

6. Fiber optic drones in other countries

7. How fiber optic drones can change the Russian-Ukrainian war

What are fiber optic drones and how they work

In simple terms, the development of fiber-optic drones was a response to countermeasures against other types of UAVs. Bayraktar drones and other mid-range strike UAVs, which were highly effective in the early stages of the full-scale war, faced strong air defense systems. The next phase saw the widespread use of FPV drones, which were then countered by extensive electronic warfare measures. This prompted drone manufacturers to shift to new frequency ranges, to which EW systems quickly adapted.

Some combat zones are heavily saturated with electronic warfare (EW) systems, making fiber-optic drones invaluable. Controlled via light signals transmitted through a thin fiber-optic cable from the console to the drone, these UAVs can operate seamlessly in enemy EW zones, where traditional countermeasures prove ineffective.

Here’s how it works: an electrical signal is converted into light, which travels through the cable to a receiver, where a special converter turns it back into an electrical signal. This connection can only be disrupted by physically damaging the cable.

It looks like the drone is tied to the operator's console with a thin fiber optic thread. When the drone moves away during flight, the fiber optic thread wound on the spool gradually unwinds, and the drone can fly away at a distance of the length of the thread.

Disadvantages of fiber optic drones

The ineffectiveness of electronic warfare (EW) systems against these drones is a significant advantage of fiber-optic UAVs. However, they do have some drawbacks. According to an article by Defense Express, an analyst highlighted three main disadvantages of fiber-optic drones.

"The first drawback is the reduced speed and maneuverability of the drone. Since the UAV needs to unroll the fiber-optic cable behind it, there are limitations on the sharpness of turns and a need for smoother accelerations or braking. At the same time, it is precisely the speed and unexpected attack directions of FPV drones that make them highly dangerous and difficult to counter with small arms," the analyst wrote.

                                                                          FPV drone and fiber optic coils for drone control, photo: Skywalker

Another downside of fiber-optic drones is the risk of communication failure if the fiber-optic cable is physically cut or damaged.

The second drawback is the "dead weight." The fiber-optic cable spool occupies part of the payload that could otherwise be used for additional batteries or a warhead. The third factor is the cost of these drones. Due to these three limitations, the expert suggests that the use of fiber-optic drones is a temporary, interim phase.

However, experts from Defense Express believe that some of the analyst's statements are contradictory.

Advantages of fiber optic drones

Other experts believe that many of the drawbacks of fiber-optic drones are exaggerated. For example, electronic warfare and UAV specialist Serhiy Flesh (Beskrestnov) tested the strength of the fiber-optic cable used in Russian FPV drones and found it to be quite durable. It can withstand approximately 30-40 kg of tensile force, although it breaks easily if bent.

Engineer Maksym Sheremet, who has personally operated such drones, dismissed the claim that the fiber-optic cable easily breaks as "nonsense" in an interview with the BBC. According to him, the cable gradually unwinds during flight and typically settles on trees or other obstacles without issue. It is very difficult to break. The only caution is to avoid sharp turns or rapid descents followed by climbs, as this could twist the fiber-optic cable.

"Managing an FPV on fiber-optics is much easier. Because the operator doesn’t lose the image, there's no need for skills to fly through an EW zone, and no need to understand the principles of radio horizon," says Sheremet.

The high cost of fiber-optic drones is now a thing of the past. In 2023, a spool with a 10-kilometer cable cost $3,000, but now it can be purchased for as little as $100.

“A coil costs an average of $150 per 10 kilometers, and a media convector costs $25-30. We’re not talking about any significant costs. Customization through our own efforts doesn’t cost us more than $250-300,” says Robert Magyar (Brovdi), commander of Ukraine's 414th Separate Regiment of Strike Unmanned Systems.

                                     Fiber optics being pulled out of the reel of the Banderyk-Strip drone, photo: Dronarnia

The main advantage — invulnerability to electronic warfare — has already been mentioned.

"Not only does EW become ineffective, but the operator also receives high-quality images from the drone. Additionally, it is now impossible to pinpoint the location of the crew operating such UAVs using electronic intelligence," explains Defense Express.

This leads to another advantage of fiber-optic drones — their invulnerability. The challenge of neutralizing these UAVs is being debated not only on both sides of the frontline but also in other countries. In particular, in Ukraine, the issue of neutralizing fiber-optic drones was a priority task at special hackathons organized by the Ministry of Defense.

“There are no effective means against them. They’ve come up with some sound sensors that are installed on static targets in positions to help detect an approaching FPV drone, and smoothbore weapons with ammunition designed to create a cloud of buckshot to stop the drone. But these are not weapons of mass destruction. You’re not going to shoot buckshot from a pickup truck while driving around. We need a technological solution, which is still being sought,” explains Magyar.

Russian drones on fiber optics

The first instances of Russia using fiber-optic drones were recorded in March 2024. By the fall, footage of fiber-optic drones hitting Ukrainian tanks, armored vehicles, and bunkers was widely published on Russian propaganda channels on social media. The drones are most frequently used in the Kursk region, and somewhat less often in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.

"The significant increase in the Russian use of these devices causes us a lot of trouble, as they are immune to both electronic warfare and the challenges posed by the terrain. This allows the enemy to operate these drones practically just above the ground — 20, 30, 50 meters — where it is much harder to detect them," says Robert Brovdi.

In September, the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured a new Russian fiber-optic drone, known as "Vandal" or "Knyaz Vandal of Novgorod" (the abbreviation KVN is a wordplay used by Russian propagandists, referring to a comedy show). 

"Now, we already have statistics from nearly a thousand uses. They are quite good: one or two cable breaks per 10 launches, and we will reduce this rate. After that, it all depends on the operator. Yes, the drone is heavy and cumbersome because it carries both the spool and the payload. But if you adjust, it's very precise," said Alexey Chadayev, the head of the company that manufactures the drone, to Russian media.

According to Russian resources, the range of this drone is 20 km and the payload is 3.5 kg.

Another well-known example of a fiber optic drone from Russia is the Piranha-5. This is actually a pocket UAV, it is 12 cm in diameter, weighs 0.3 kg and can reach a speed of 220 km/h. Russia claims that even with such dimensions, it can lift a payload of up to 1 kg and operate within a radius of 1-3 km from infantrymen. The main goal of the Piranha is to mass-produce drones that will be used on the battlefield, but primarily for training operators.

Ukrainian drones on fiber optics

A negative factor in the confrontation with fiber-optic drones is that the Russians were the first to deploy this weapon, putting the Ukrainians in a catching-up position, although it could have been the other way around. The first drone of this type was developed by the Dronarnia organization as early as the beginning of 2023. However, the military considered the invention "irrelevant." Serhiy Beskrestnov (call sign Flash) confirms this information, admitting that he himself was part of the jury at one of the Ministry of Defense's hackathons, where doubts were raised about the technology.

                                                                                               Ukrainian fiber optic FPV drone, photo: MADIAR/telegram

"The first flights with fiber-optic drones were demonstrated to the military by our Ukrainian guys back in 2022. However, it did not attract interest at the time. It was the enemy who brought the product into series production and mass use on the front. Unfortunately, this has been the trend throughout the war. We come up with the ideas first, but they scale them faster," says Flash.

The fiber-optic drone developed by Ukrainians in 2023 was called "Banderyk-Strichka." The first prototype had a tactical operating radius of 1 km, could stay in the air for 15 minutes, and carry up to 3 kg of payload.

                                                                              Ukrainian fiber optic drone “Banderyk-Strip”, photo: Dronarnia

In November, the Ukrainian company 3DTech successfully tested the Khyzak REBOFF in combat conditions. It features 10-inch drones with two spools — one for a 5 km range (carrying a payload of 2.3 kg) and another for 10 km (with a 1.2 kg payload). The difference in range is due to the extra 5 km of cable, which weighs just over a kilogram. Additionally, 13-inch drones with a 10-kilometer cable and a 2 kg warhead were also tested.

At the beginning of December, specialists from E-Banshee, a company focused on developing heavy drones with high payload capacity, tested a fiber-optic hexacopter bomber. The testers reported that the trials were successful, with all 10 km of cable wrapped around branches in a forest.

The Ukrainian General Staff reported on another drone, the Black Widow Web 10 - a fiber-optic kamikaze drone. It can travel over 5 km and carry around 2 kilograms of payload.

"This is not just a new weapon prototype — it is a window of opportunity for further research and development in fiber-optic communication. Robotics and unmanned technologies have received a new development vector. FPV drones with this technology are becoming a significant problem for the enemy on the front line," the General Staff wrote on their page.

Fiber optic drones in other countries

Another fiber-optic drone tested in Ukraine is an unmanned complex manufactured by the German company HIGHCAT. During flight, the cable unwinds from a special 10 km spool, which weighs about 1.3 kg (or 20 km and 2.2 kg). The cable does not stretch during use but rather unrolls onto the ground, preventing the risk of tangling. The manufacturers assure that the fiber is strong enough for the drone to fly over trees and water, in circles, or even in reverse directions.

The drone is capable of carrying a payload of up to 5 kg, which is sufficient to carry a camera with 10x optical zoom and a thermal imager. The German manufacturers have stated their readiness to produce up to 3,000 such drones per month.

In August, the Chinese company Skywalker introduced fiber-optic drones. The manufacturers claim that their drones are capable of flying up to 20 km on fiber-optic cables. They have also developed versions with spools for 1 km, 5 km, and 10 km of cable.

The Turkish company ASISGUARD also worked in this direction, developing drones equipped with explosives. These drones were designed to carry a 1.5 kg payload for 5 km with a speed of over 150 km/h.

How fiber optic drones can change the Russian-Ukrainian war

The BBC has referred to the introduction of fiber-optic drones as a "revolution that Ukraine missed." However, military experts emphasize that these new drones will not replace older models but will fill a specific niche on the front lines.

"Let me clarify, these drones cannot fully replace wireless drones. That’s unrealistic. But they will occupy their own segment. By the spring of next year, most Ukrainian Defense Forces units will actively use fiber-optic drones. There will be regular FPV drones, guided drones, and fiber-optic drones, each used for different tasks and at different distances," said Yuriy Fedorenko, the commander of the strike UAV battalion "Achilles" of Ukraine's 92nd Assault Brigade named after Ivan Sirko.

Some military officials say that today's fiber-optic drones still need many more steps to be improved. An officer with Ukraine's 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Kosh Ataman Kostya Hordiyenko, call sign Archie, told ArmyInform that his unit has encountered fiber optic drones in and around the city of Vovchansk. However, he does not believe that these weapons give Russia any extraordinary advantage.

The officer emphasized that the flying device essentially becomes just a regular wire-guided anti-tank missile. The wire hinders the drone's ability to maneuver as effectively as regular drones. He explained that the wire isn't infinite, has weight, and can get caught on numerous obstacles present in the city. He compared the technology to that used in anti-tank guided missiles, which is something they are familiar with, so they understand how to counter it.

At the same time, Colonel Pavlo Rozlach, the brigadier of the 80th Air Assault Brigade, emphasized that fiber-optic drones are “top of the list of the brigade's needs.”

The best way to use a fiber-optic drone is to launch it in a straight line to destroy an enemy electronic warfare installation. After that, it becomes possible to use conventional FPV kamikaze drones or radio-controlled bombers. The integrated operation of a fiber-optic drone and combat FPV drones gives the best results on the battlefield.

The use of fiber-optic drones can change the fighting along the entire contact line, Magyar believes.

“If we increase the use of fiber-optic drones on our side and on the enemy's side, we will actually end up in a situation of a 20-kilometer zone where movement is severely restricted, because there will be no electronic warfare and electronic warfare equipment to help detect and combat them. When an assault takes place and the enemy uses serious positional electronic warfare equipment in the sector, to stop the assault, we need to have 10-20 fiber-optic drones at each position to use them in a resuscitative manner and make further advancement impossible,” the regiment commander said.