Drones controlled via fiber-optic cable began to be widely used in the war in Ukraine a little over a year ago. Commands and video are transmitted through the cable with almost no delay, which makes these systems effectively immune to electronic warfare interference.
Military analyst David Sharp said both medium-sized UAVs and small FPV drones can use fiber-optic control. Their main advantages are resistance to jamming and stable communication even where a normal radio channel fails, including inside buildings with thick walls. Their main drawbacks are the risk of cable breakage, reduced maneuverability, and limits imposed by spool length, usually up to 20 kilometers.
Military researcher Kirill Mikhailov added that increasing cable length often comes at the expense of warhead weight. He said such drones are invisible to enemy electronic reconnaissance, provide high-quality video, and are increasingly able to reach shelters that had previously been considered safe.
A Ukrainian serviceman, Konstantin S., said Ukrainian developers first demonstrated such systems almost two years ago, while from late summer to early autumn 2024 Russian forces began using them on a mass scale, first in the Kursk region and later in other sectors. He noted that these UAVs are harder to pilot: they are slower, less stable, and require experienced operators who also have to change launch positions frequently.
According to the publication’s sources, no effective electronic warfare countermeasures against these drones have yet been developed; on the front line, troops most often try to shoot them down with hunting shotguns. Strong wind also reduces controllability because even a thin cable creates drag.
Konstantin S. said Russia has already established industrial production of such UAVs: the “Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky” FPV model with a thermal imager is being produced and used in the thousands. Pavel Aksenov, a military commentator for the BBC Russian Service, argues that drones, including fiber-optic ones, became a cheap substitute for artillery amid ammunition shortages, but are unlikely on their own to stop a major offensive involving aircraft and engineering equipment.