Fibre-Optic Guided Drones: A New Era for Electronic Warfare

L’uso dei droni in guerra è ormai consolidato, ma una recente innovazione sta cambiando le regole del gioco. Si tratta dei droni a fibra ottica, che grazie a un cavo di fibra ottica collegato al pilota, sono in grado di eludere le interferenze elettroniche, un problema comune per i droni tradizionali. I droni pilotati tramite radiofrequenze sono vulnerabili agli attacchi elettronici, come il jamming, che può bloccare o interrompere la loro operazione. Tuttavia, i droni a fibra ottica, che utilizzano un cavo di fibra lunga fino a 10 km, sono immuni a queste interferenze. Questo ha reso questa tecnologia particolarmente interessante e utile sul campo di battaglia, come testimoniato dal loro impiego da parte delle forze ucraine durante il conflitto con la Russia.

How Fibre Optic Drones Work

The operating principle of fibre-optic drones is simple but effective. Unlike conventional drones, which send and receive radio signals for remote control, fibre-optic drones are connected to the pilot via a fibre-optic cable that unwinds during flight. This cable, which is durable and difficult to break without causing significant physical damage, allows the pilot to control the drone directly and safely, without having to worry about electronic interference. The benefits of this technology are many: superior image quality, increased signal stability and improved shot accuracy, all while reducing the risk of data loss if the drone is shot down.

Optical fibre is not vulnerable to interference waves, a crucial advantage in a warfare environment where electronic warfare plays a key role. Russian forces, for instance, have developed advanced jamming systems to block Ukrainian drones, but fibre-optic drones are an effective solution to counter this threat.

The Strategic Deployment of Fibre Optic Drones on the Battlefield

Fibre-optic drones are rapidly becoming one of the most powerful weapons in modern warfare. Ukrainian forces have begun to adopt this technology to strike enemy targets with lethal precision, avoiding interference from Russian jamming devices. The use of these drones has had a significant impact, especially in regions such as Kursk and Donetsk, where Russian advances have been hampered by fibre-optic drones. The drones, equipped with explosive charges and guided by the fibre cable, are able to strike deep behind enemy lines, destroying equipment units and creating chaos on supply routes.

Maksym, un soldato ucraino che ha partecipato a operazioni in queste aree, ha raccontato come i droni a fibra ottica siano riusciti a colpire i suoi mezzi corazzati, nonostante gli sforzi dei soldati russi per impedire l’operazione. Grazie alla connessione stabile e sicura fornita dal cavo di fibra ottica, i droni sono in grado di compiere attacchi di precisione, creando danni irreparabili senza essere facilmente bloccati dai sistemi di jamming nemici. Questo ha reso i droni a fibra ottica una risorsa fondamentale per il conflitto, tanto che anche le forze russe hanno iniziato ad adottare tecnologie simili per difendersi dalle incursioni ucraine.

Furthermore, the physical resistance of the fibre-optic cable, which is almost impossible to break without causing serious damage, has made this technology very difficult to neutralise. The only way to stop a fibre-optic drone is to sever the cable, but doing so requires targeted actions that are difficult to implement on the battlefield.

The Innovation of Fibre Optic Drones for Terrestrial Units

Recently, Ukrainian developers have extended this technology to the ground droneswhich are now equipped with fibre-optic control systems, making them immune to electronic interference. During a demonstration event organised by the Dronarium team, terrestrial and aerial drones controlled via fibre optics were presented. These drones are equipped with a fibre-optic coil up to 10 km long, enabling stable transmission of telemetry, control data and video with a bandwidth ranging from 100 to 1000 Mbps. These systems have demonstrated great manoeuvrability, even in difficult terrain, making the drones even more efficient on the battlefield.

The introduction of fibre-optic drones has solved one of the main problems in the use of drones in urban or wooded areas, where traditional radio signals are easily disturbed. Fibre-optic drones, on the other hand, are able to operate stably even in these difficult conditions, maintaining continuous and secure communication. The adoption of this technology also allows multiple drones to operate simultaneously in the same area, freeing up the limited radio frequencies used by traditional drones.

Fibre-optic drones are a direct response to the problems caused by electronic interference in modern warfare. With their ability to operate safely and accurately, without the risk of being jammed or damaged by enemy jamming systems, these drones are redefining battlefield tactics. Ukrainian forces have demonstrated the effectiveness of this technology, which is set to grow in importance as electronic warfare continues to evolve. The ability to use drones in safe mode, even in interference-intensive environments, offers a decisive strategic advantage, and the adoption of this technology could mark the beginning of a new era in armed conflict.

Source: https://www.euronews.com/next/2025/01/27/this-ukrainian-drone-is-safe-from-electronic-warfare-thanks-to-fibre-optic-cables