Fibre-optic drones reshape Ukraine warfare dynamics
Drones have become a crucial method of warfare in Ukraine, second only to artillery. Even concealing heavy equipment amidst the rubble of buildings no longer guarantees its safety. A small opening is enough to risk losing equipment worth millions.
The introduction and proliferation of drones using fibre optics a few months ago have transformed the battlefield, rendering jammers ineffective. However, it is essential to acknowledge that fibre-optic drones remain a minority.
As a result, these drones are more frequently deployed to target high-value assets, particularly in the opponent's rear areas, where jammers are abundant. The video below demonstrates how drones enter hangars where the Russians stored self-propelled howitzers. The first appears to be a 2S1 Gvozdika, and the second a 2S19 Msta-S, both of which were destroyed.
Fibre-optic drones — return to the state of late 2022/2023
Drones connected to the control station via fibre optics have reinstated the usage status reminiscent of late 2022/2023 when they effectively eliminated armoured equipment, and countermeasures were just beginning to be developed.
Over time, jammers were created, which, depending on the frequency used by the opponent's drone operators, either worked or failed. This led to periods of both unimpeded activity for drone operators and their ineffectiveness.
Fibre-optic drones have stabilised this fluctuation because they cannot be jammed and, furthermore, they are passive and do not emit radio signals. These can be detected by detectors that even allow a view from the drone's camera.
The trade-off for using a fibre-optic connection is the need to carry a spool with a deploying fibre-optic cable, which limits the range and payload of the drone. The range of these drones can be between 10-20 kilometres or even 40 as mentioned in one of "Madziar’s" reports. However, when the range increases, the capacity for combat payloads decreases.
