Russia is striding ahead with its wielding of fiber-optic drones, the head of Ukraine's drone programs told high-ranking Ukrainian officials at the start of the year.
"The enemy continues to increase its capabilities in the use of drone control technologies via fiber optics, so it is extremely necessary to level its advantages," Lieutenant Colonel Yevgeny Tkachenko said, in remarks published by Kyiv's government.
Throughout nearly three years of war, the lightning development of drones—and the counter-drone technology to beat each new advancement—has limned the conflict in Ukraine.
Why It Matters
Russia has been trying to beat back Ukrainian control over Russian soil in Kursk since Kyiv launched its surprise cross-border incursion in August last year. Ukraine still holds roughly half of the captured territory, and launched a fresh effort in Kursk a week ago. Against such intensive EW, Russia using fiber-optic drones would make sense.
What To Know
As the battlefield became crowded with thousands of drones and electronic warfare (EW) systems designed to render them useless, Moscow and Kyiv have been forced to find new ways to make sure their drones work against their enemy faster and more effectively than their adversary.
Fiber-optic drones have cropped up more and more in recent months as one of the main solutions to extensive EW used by both sides.
How Does It Work
Fiber optics work by transmitting information and energy as light pulses down very thin strands of glass.
"We are not usually aware of it, but we actually use fiber optics almost every day," U.K.-based drone expert Steve Wright told Newsweek.
"We can cram much more data down a connection" through fiber optics, which is vital on a battlefield, Wright said.
Fiber-optic drones "are controlled via a very thin cable unwinding from a spool attached to the drone." This is a close relation to the cables providing internet access to many homes, experts from Iron Cluster, which covers dozens of Ukrainian technology companies, told Newsweek.
On the Battlefield
Russia debuted fiber-optic drones, but the Ukrainians weren't far behind, said Samuel Bendett, from the Washington-based nonprofit for research and analysis, the CNA.
"The Russians were the first to deploy fiber-optic drones in this war and, as of early 2025, are widely using this solution across various sections of the front line," said the Iron Cluster experts. "Ukrainian manufacturers are now striving to catch up in the development of fiber-optic drones."
First introduced in 2024, most fiber-optic drones are first-person-view (FPV) and quadcopter uncrewed aerial vehicles, Bendett told Newsweek.
"Typically, fiber optics are used on FPV multirotors for kamikaze missions," said the Iron Cluster experts. "But now efforts are underway to adapt this technology for controlling other types of drones, including ground-based drones."
The cables can stretch varying distances, and often go up to around 10 kilometers [6.2 miles], Bendett said. Some can now reach double this distance, he added.
There are three major advantages of fiber optics, the Iron Cluster experts said. The signal to the drone can't be jammed or intercepted, while also providing much-better video quality to the operator. On top of this, the drones cannot be detected by enemy forces through the radio signals, a type of electromagnetic signal.
Using drones that emit electromagnetic signals "is the equivalent of flying around the battlefield carrying a string of Christmas tree lights," added Wright. This isn't a problem for fiber-optic drones.
Russia is using at least three different types of fiber-optic drones—especially in its western Kursk region to battle Ukraine's incursion—while the Ukrainians are preparing to fly at least 10 types, Bendett said.
There is some debate about how effective the current fiber-optic drones really are, Bendett added. They can be used to take out weapons or enemy systems ahead of radio-controlled drones, he said, and open up the way for the non-fiber-optic drones to then attack.
But fiber-optic drones tend to be more expensive and heavier, the Iron Cluster experts said, adding up to 1.5 kilograms [3.3 pounds] extra to the drone's weight for a roughly 10-kilometer [6.2-mile] length of cable.
"This reduces the drone's capacity to carry explosives, thereby diminishing its potential to strike targets effectively," the experts said. "To compensate for this, larger drones are needed, featuring bigger frames and more powerful batteries." They are often more accurate when targeting, they added.
What People Are Saying
A Russian military blogger, who purports to have ties to the Kremlin's security services, said, as the renewed Ukrainian operations got underway, that dense electronic warfare in Kursk meant "all radio frequencies and even the Internet were jammed."
"The enemy has covered the attack area with electronic warfare, so many drones are useless," another Russian blogger said.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on January 2 that it had showcased FPV drones controlled by fiber-optic cables for a number of the military's senior commanders as part of what it called "the army of the future."
What's Next
Experts expect fiber-optic drones to becoming more popular throughout 2025, but see the cables as the natural next step in the drone-intensive war in Eastern Europe.
Fiber-optic drones are "going to grow in importance in Ukraine" from this year, Bendett said.
"Introducing fiber optics is not a fundamental game-changer, but it is certainly another incremental step 'forward' in the brutal, never-ending, struggle for survival on the battlefield," added Wright.
English (US) ·