Russia gets advantage with fibre-optic drones as Ukraine ramps up effort to catch up

Russia gets advantage with fibre-optic drones as Ukraine ramps up effort to catch up

A new generation of battlefield technology is tilting the tide in Russia's direction along the conflict frontlines of the war in Ukraine. Following years of drone war led by Ukrainian technology, Russian forces are using fibre-optic first-person-view (FPV) drones on a scale and pace that Ukraine has not been able to counter. Trained to fly using ultra-thin glass cables rather than radio waves, the drones have been stubbornly resistant to interception and ruthlessly efficient at demolishing Ukrainian positions and supply lines, the Washington Post reported.

How fibre-optic drones are changing the war

At first glance, the prospect of coupling a cable to an unmanned aerial vehicle might appear to be turning back the clock on technology. But for the military in Russia, this retrofitting has offered a game-changer. In contrast to conventional FPV drones, which are susceptible to jamming and interference, fibre-optic drones are flown through a physical cable transmitting high-definition video and commands—skipping electronic warfare defences.

Russian troops are now employing these drones to horrific effect, especially in the Kursk area. Ukrainian soldiers say they could not jam the fibre-guided models, which enabled Russian operators to hover drones quietly over targets for hours, sometimes, until the ideal strike opportunity came along. The tethered drones have enhanced battery life, greater accuracy, and can fly through challenging terrain like forests and city streets without disconnecting from their operators.

Tactical losses for Ukraine in Kursk

At Kursk, the effect of Russia's fibre-optic fleet was felt at once and brutally. Ukrainian drone platoons were outgunned and outflanked. Their vehicles were ambushed, their lines of retreat severed, and vital lines of supply—like the final road to the occupied Russian town of Sudzha—converted into "death traps."

Troops had to leave behind cars and flee on foot, some amputees being left behind when evacuations proved impossible under drone watch. "Russia enjoyed an enormous advantage in Kursk," one Ukrainian commander confessed, attributing the loss of the region partially to the superior drone technology of the enemy.

Ukraine's dash to catch up

Ukrainian troops and engineers are frantically working to turn around the advantage. There are approximately 15 local companies developing fibre-optic drones, and 20 additional ones are manufacturing specialized cable coils used in production. Supply chains, though, still rely on foreign imports for critical material, and production can be over twice as costly as outdated models for each drone.

In secret workshops and out-of-the-way test locations, Ukrainian troops are producing drones in three sizes, each suited for different ranges of 6 to 12.5 miles. Even with production speeding up, there are problems with operation. The tether, though jam-resistant, can get entangled on tree branches or knotted while in flight, severing control. It requires training and skill to operate these drones safely—make a single error and the mission is at risk.

The battlefield is used as a proving ground

Ukraine's war efforts have been an international proving ground for drone warfare for years, and fibre-optic drones are the newest iteration. US defence professionals, such as Brinc Drones' Andrew Coté, view the developments as revolutionary. Fiber-optic drones provide encrypted, secure command channels and accuracy levels unavailable in previous iterations of small, explosive-laden drones. These developments are already being monitored by defence contractors internationally.

Ukrainian officials like Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov are counting on the increasing need for tethered drones to change the face of the battlefield. His ministry currently operates a military bazaar that gifts front-line soldiers with new drones upon verifying successful hits. "Everyone requires fibre-optic drones," Fedorov stated. "They operate in any terrain."

What's next?

The second stage of this technology arms race might involve finding and following the fibre cables of the drones back to their operators—providing a counter to this now-prevalent device. Until then, though, Russia's dominance in manufacturing and deployment has remapped the strategic space, providing Moscow with a rare technological advantage.

As Ukraine races to field its own fibre-optic fleet and break dependence on exposed radio-guided models, the war's future may depend on which side better scales and improves this surprisingly potent innovation. As one Ukrainian engineer put it, "Sometimes genius ideas are really simple."