Ukraine’s advance toward Kursk was a success thanks to blitzkrieg electronic warfare that blinded Russian reconnaissance drones and knocked their FPVs out of the sky. Now, Russia is fighting back with new fiber-optic guided drones, which are immune to radio interference. the first time such weapons have been used in combat. *
It’s another reminder of how temporarily small drones are evolving. And a warning to the rest of the world, which relies heavily on interference to oppose terrorist drone attacks.
FPV drones sometimes require a radio link with the operator. This transmits a video signal from the drone and signals to the drone on some other channel. Losing any of the signs regularly means an instant collapse.
That’s why we’ve noticed a large number of trench jammers, suitcase jammers, and vehicle-mounted jammers on the front lines, eliminating radio noise at particular frequencies. If effective, they create a protective bubble that extends more than fifty or one hundred meters. This will usually keep FPVs away, professional FPV operators will move from a steep angle so their drone can pass through their momentum.
Drones keep converting their operating frequencies and jammers are constantly being updated to prevent them from becoming a never-ending game of cat and mouse. That is why a bombardment like the one on Kursk is necessary, with a long preparation period to identify all the frequencies used and a sufficient concentration of jammers to block everything in a given domain in order to avoid all drones for a given period of time. .
Drones can also lose their link for other reasons. The radio link necessarily requires line of sight. This is fine when the drone is high above the ground, but as soon as it descends, communication starts to break down. The flying relays help, but the FPVs have to descend during the final attack and there is almost interference in the video signal. the last second, which impairs vision at the critical moment.
One solution to the interference/communication challenge is AI-powered terminal guidance: the operator locks on to the target at a safe distance, and the drone then chases after it even if the connection is lost. These systems are already being implemented in small numbers on both sides. .
Another technique is cable guidance: the drone winds up a fiber-optic cable, like wire-guided missiles like the TOW, which have been in service for several decades, but also carry a high-resolution video signal.
Ukraine captured a Russian fiber-optic drone prototype in March, but it appeared to be the only one of its kind. Ukrainian developers were working on a similar design, and German company HIGHCAT is showcasing its HMX fiber optic drone in Ukraine this month. Combat images have been released showing what appear to be the first movements of this type of weapon.
On August 12, videos posted on social media showed alleged attacks on Ukrainian BTR-4 reconnaissance vehicles in Giri with fiber optic FPV drones. Although it is highly unlikely to confirm this, the video shows a lack of interference.
“These screenshots of Ukrainian BTRs taken from Russian FPVs at Giri are unprecedented in terms of solution and clarity,” Roy, a Twitter/X analyst who studies surveillance systems, told me. Russian weapons.
On August 18, the Russian army Telegram channel Army Siberia shared another attack video with a more detailed description. They claim that the new fiber optic drone is known as the “Vandal Prince of Novgorod” and evolved through the Ushkuynik Science and Production Center. in Novgorod.
“This attack, the video, has a better solution than the previous one and there is no interference with the Russian attack on Giri,” says Roy.
There is little data about this organization. It has already been reported in the state media TASS that they operate with high-speed interceptors and appear to be genuine.
It’s highly unlikely to verify whether those videos came from fiber-optic drones, but the claims are credible given their quality. And there are other reasons why Russia might have access to this technology.
Skywalker Technology now offers fiber optic drone controllers on the open market. The company’s online page offers a touch contact in Singapore, ClashReport describes them as Chinese.
Skywalker sells several drones with military applications, including one armed with rockets and kamikaze-type, as well as devices to convert customers’ quadcopters into bombers. Their latest offering is a fiber optic steering formula to upgrade the radio control. As in the past models, it carries a large weight penalty; A five-kilometer/3-mile reel of cable weighs about two and a half pounds. The maximum diversity is six miles, HIGHCAT offers twice as much.
As with other FPV parts that come from suppliers in the Far East, this paves the way for an instant source of new technologies for both sides of the Ukraine conflict. Whereas the army generation used to go through a procedure of evaluation, specification, and duration of years. Following testing, approval, and procurement, independent drone brands can now purchase them commercially and ship them to the front lines in a matter of weeks.
The main objections raised (snagging obstacles, cable breakage, leaving a trail to the operator) do not seem to be real problems, but fiber optic control has disadvantages, as mentioned in the past, and is unlikely to completely upgrade the control by radio. The type will remain effective under heavy jamming conditions and can only be used during the first attack wave.
And, of course, fiber-optic drones can prevent any attack by relying on an electronic warfare screen for armored vehicles.
Because there are no radio signals involved, fiber-optic drones and their operators must stumble and locate through the same old direction-locating techniques. Of course, they are immune to the electronic jamming and identity theft measures used to protect civilian sites from drones. Civilian use of these drones will most likely be severely restricted.
Finally, the fiber optic link also offers the option of a hybrid formula. The controller can use an AI formula that is heavier and stronger than what a drone can carry, taking advantage of high-resolution photographs to track and identify items in real time. time. The reasonable drone wears out, but the expensive controller is reused for attacks.
Six months ago, this generation wasn’t even a rumor. Now it’s on the open market and destroying targets. Expect more advancements soon.
*NOTE ADDED FOR CLARITY: Wire-guided missiles like TOW have been employing wire-consistent cops to transmit signals for decades. More recently, fiber-optic cables have been used to transmit video signals from the long-range edition of Israel’s Spike tank destroyer. missile, but this generation had not yet been used in attack drones. And while the Spike-LR costs more than $200,000 per shot, those drones cost about 1/100th more.