The application scenarios, advantages and disadvantages of fiber-optic drones

Fiber optics play a crucial role in certain drones (UAVs), primarily to solve the problem of electronic warfare (EW) interference. Here's a breakdown of their relationship:

• Anti-Jamming Capability: Traditional drones often use radio frequencies (RF) for control and video transmission, which are susceptible to electronic interference (jamming). Both sides employ extensive EW systems to disrupt these signals. Drones using fiber-optic cables transmit control commands and receive real-time video feeds through a physical thin cable unreeled from the drone. Since this doesn't rely on wireless signals, it's highly resistant to jamming 18.

• Enhanced Security: Fiber-optic transmission is very difficult to intercept or hack compared to radio signals, offering better operational security 8.

• First-Person View (FPV) Attack Drones: These are often low-cost commercial drones modified to carry explosives (essentially "drone bombs"). They are used for precise attacks on high-value targets like tanks, armored vehicles, and infrastructure 18.

• Application of Fiber Optics: Some FPV attack drones are equipped with fiber-optic guidance systems. This allows operators to maintain control and receive clear video feeds even in intense EW environments, ensuring the drone can reach its target. For instance, Russia's "Novgorod Saboteur" FPV drone is fiber-optic guided and has been used effectively, reportedly causing significant losses to Ukrainian forces 9.

• Tactical Advantages: Fiber-optic guided drones can operate where traditional drones would be disabled. This forces adversaries to seek new countermeasures beyond electronic jamming 18.

• Limitations and Challenges:

  • Range Constraint: The drone's operational range is limited by the length of the fiber-optic cable (typically several kilometers, though newer developments aim for longer ranges) 28.

  • Mobility and Vulnerability: The trailing cable can be snagged on obstacles like trees or buildings, potentially causing the drone to crash. It can also be deliberately cut 38.

  • Cost and Production: These systems are more expensive than standard FPV drones (reportedly 6-8 times the cost) 8. However, some sources indicate efforts to keep costs low for mass production 9.

  • Other Vulnerabilities: The cables can be fragile, especially in extreme cold, and the drones might be louder due to the need for larger motors to carry the cable spool, making them potentially easier to detect acoustically 8.

Countering fiber-optic drones requires methods other than electronic jamming. Potential countermeasures include:

• Physical Destruction: Using anti-aircraft guns, small arms fire, or other drones to shoot them down.

• Targeting the Cable: Attempting to sever the fiber-optic cable.

• Acoustic Detection: Utilizing the potentially louder noise signature for early warning 8.

• Laser Systems: Some reports mention Ukraine experimenting with lasers to damage the drones or their cables 8.