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Inside Ukraine's race to crank out unjammable, fiber-optic drones that can break through Russia's electronic warfare
- Ukrainian companies are increasing the production of fiber-optic drones, which can't be jammed with traditional electronic warfare, making them a huge threat in combat. Fiber-optic drones are regular first-person-view drones that can carry a small explosive payload. Instead of relying on a radio frequency signal connection, which can be jammed, they're equipped with spools of long, thin cables to ensure a stable link between the drone and its operator. The fiber-optic cables make these drones highly resistant to traditional electronic warfare systems like frequency jammers. The number of participating Ukrainian firms producing fiber-optic drones is only growing, and these companies can now produce thousands of fiber-optic drones per month.
- The drones are a significant advantage in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, and Ukrainian officials are pushing the defense industry to make more drones to keep pace with Russia, which had a head start in the production of fiber-optic drones. Furthermore, the Ukrainian defense ministry recently announced that it will provide combat units with $60 million monthly to procure drones to quickly meet front-line needs. This initiative allows soldiers to sidestep slower, centralized purchasing.
- A fiber-optic drone is seen before a test flight in the Kyiv region.
- Ukrainian developers are actively ramping up the production of fiber-optic drones, using spools of long, thin cables instead of relying on a radio frequency signal connection, which can be jammed.
- Because of the fiber-optic cables, these drones are highly resistant to traditional electronic warfare systems like frequency jammers, making them dangerous and difficult to defend against.
- These drones produce high-quality video transmissions without bandwidth issues, allowing the operator to guide them for pinpoint strikes on enemy troops or vehicles.
- Fiber-optic drones could target advancing forces shielded by mobile electronic warfare, increasing the already high costs of enemy advances, as well as protected fixed positions. They can also be used to strike targets that are protected by intense Russian frequency jamming.
- The Ukrainian defense ministry recently announced that they will provide combat units with $60 million monthly to procure drones for immediate needs.
- Russian troops have been using fiber-optic drones to hunt Ukrainian soldiers for over a year, making it a wake-up call for Ukraine to respond.
- Kyiv has raised its annual drone manufacturing capacity to 4 million units, which is a significant increase from previous years, in response to the demand and threat they pose.
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