Fiber-optic drones are the latest development in the arms race between Ukraine and Russia. They are connected to the one who serves them via an optical cable. They were first used a year ago by the Russians in the Kursk region. Now "Azov" and other Ukrainian brigades are also using this technique. It has many advantages compared to remotely controlled drones.
"When a radio-controlled drone flies over a hill or tries to land there, the video link and control are lost. And this drone continues to show footage – regardless of the terrain," one of the drone pilots from the "Azov" brigade explained to DW with the call sign Laplace.
Advantages and disadvantages of fiber-optic drones
The movement of radio-controlled drones can be disturbed, and their video signal can be detected by the enemy. Fiber-optic drones are considered secure - at least so far. But they also have a weak point. The fiber-optic cable is difficult to detect and is extremely durable - like fishing line. But if it gets caught somewhere, for example on a tree, it can break and the drone will lose connection.
The Ukrainian pilot pointed out to DW that this type of drone has another disadvantage. "If the cable hangs or gets tangled in trees or grass, i.e. not directly on the ground, it is very visible in sunlight, especially at dawn or sunset." From there, the cable can be easily traced back to the person who controls it.
This has already happened: while a Ukrainian unit was controlling drones from a basement, its hideout was identified by the Russians and attacked, but fortunately no one was hurt.
Drone pilots know well that they are valuable targets. One of them, call sign Bold from the "Hartiya" brigade, told DW: "There are different types of ammunition – for tanks and others. There are also different reels of cables – of different sizes depending on the targets that need to be attacked. If the target is no more than 10 km away, small reels are used".
These drones take longer to set up than radio-controlled ones, and require more effort. But their use provides a more complete view of the battlefield. "When we started using fiber-optic drones, we found that there were machine gun nests, ammunition depots and motorcycles very close to us, which we didn't expect", the platoon commander from the "Paper" brigade, nicknamed Aristocrat, told DW.
The fiber-optic drones can also enter the interior of buildings. "They fly around the rooms, along the corridors, between the offices. You can even carefully examine what is painted on the walls - something that a regular drone cannot show", explains Bold.
"Our goal is to destroy the enemy"
In addition, the drones keep the enemy at a distance. "When we are given the following order, for example: "Kill the fighter on the motorcycle, we turn on the drone to eliminate the enemy", says the battalion commander Ares from the "Paper" brigade.
This is the new Russian tactic - soldiers on motorcycles are trying to break through the Ukrainian defense line. Small, fast-moving assault groups have replaced large armored attacks - with the idea of not being easily detected. They also send in kamikaze drones and heavy bombers.
"Our goal is to destroy the enemy - by all means possible. "We have to be ahead of the enemy in development, we have to assert ourselves through the latest technologies, update everything quickly and discover new things to have a tactical advantage," Ares is categorical.
Fiber-optic drones are the latest innovation on the battlefield. And they certainly won't be the last.
Author: Max Zander