Ukraine needs to develop fiber-optic drones with a range of 20 km or more to be on par with Russia

To achieve parity with Russian troops, the Ukrainian Defense Forces must actively develop fiber-optic drones capable of operating at a distance of 20 kilometers or more.

Yevhen Khmara, head of the SSU’s Special Operations Center A, announced this.

According to him, Ukrainian defenders also need operational and tactical-level means capable of delivering high-precision and powerful ammunition.

This will allow them to effectively engage enemy personnel even in well-fortified positions.

Khmara also noted the importance of developing alternative navigation systems for long-range kamikaze drones.

Development of fiber optic drones

On April 1, it was reported that more than 15 UAV manufacturers tested their developments by overcoming a route with obstacles over 20 km long and simulating a target approach.

The results demonstrate significant progress: while previously, the range of such drones did not exceed 5-10 km, Ukrainian developers have now presented solutions capable of hitting targets at a distance of more than 20 km.

This opens up new opportunities for long-range strikes, which were previously carried out by radio-controlled FPV drones.

Thanks to fiber-optic communication, drones can perform combat missions while remaining invulnerable to electronic interference.

In addition, the absence of radio emissions makes it impossible to detect them by radio reconnaissance, and operators receive high-quality images and are not affected by the radio horizon.

The event also featured test runs by seven manufacturers of fiber-optic-controlled ground robotic systems (GCS).

In early January, it was reported that the cost of fiber optic drones has dropped significantly due to increased production, and prices may fall even further for Ukrainian companies.

Currently, China is the leading supplier of fiber optic cable reels for drones, supplying both Russian and Ukrainian FPV copter manufacturers.

Ukraine already has factories capable of spooling finished fiber optics, which is critical for reliability and reducing the risk of cable breakage during flight.

Ukrainian drone pilots are actively using such drones in combat.