Chinese Drone Maker Introduces UAV Controlled by Fiber Optics

Chinese drone maker Skywalker has unveiled a fixed-wing drone controlled via a fiber-optic tether.

The company says the drone can operate over a distance of up to 30 kilometers using a fiber-optic connection.

It has a maximum flight speed of 190 km/h. According to the manufacturer, it is equipped with a third-generation coil weighing 2.9 kilograms and containing 30,100 meters of cable.

The system uses a fiber-optic remote control, which the company says is immune to interference.

Currently, drones are typically countered either by physical destruction or through electronic warfare (EW) systems designed to disrupt their communications.

UAVs, including FPV models, are usually detected by their radio signals, which allow defenders to anticipate incoming attacks.

Drone makers and EW system developers are engaged in a constant contest: the former working to improve signal security, the latter seeking new ways to disrupt control and video transmissions.

Fiber-optic drones, however, are unaffected by EW because they do not rely on radio frequencies.

The absence of radio signals also makes such drones undetectable by conventional drone detection systems.

The operators receive a near real-time, high-quality video feed from the drone’s camera.

In February, Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces tested domestically produced Shovkopryad (Silkworm – e.d.) fiber-optic modules, designed for use on aerial, ground, and maritime drones.