Navy Sailors First in US to Test FPV Drones on Fiber Optics

The U.S. Navy has tested fiber-optic FPV drones during the Silent Swarm 25 Exercise.

Defence Blog reported that during the two-week exercise in Alpena, Michigan, sailors had tested unmanned aerial systems and unmanned surface vessels, with a focus on how they operated under enemy electronic warfare conditions.

One of the systems evaluated was a drone controlled through a fiber-optic cable.

Similar systems have already proven effective in the war in Ukraine, where both sides are using them extensively.

Unlike conventional drones that rely on radio signals, fiber-optic drones use a physical cable connection, making them resistant to electronic warfare.

The publication noted that Silent Swarm 25 Exercise highlighted the U.S. military’s close attention to the evolution of small drones and battlefield concepts for their use.

“By integrating fiber-optic drones into its experimental cycle, the U.S. Navy is signaling its interest in adapting this concept for its own operational needs,” Defence Blog wrote.

The exercise featured scenarios where unmanned systems operated in swarms, under electronic warfare pressure and continuous surveillance in challenging conditions.

The Navy described Silent Swarm 25 Exercise as part of a broader effort to explore how autonomous systems can expand U.S. military capabilities.

No procurement or deployment decisions have been announced, but the drills gave sailors and engineers the chance to assess the operational advantages of fiber-optic drones and other unmanned aerial systems.

“The experiment also demonstrated how battlefield innovations seen in Ukraine are shaping U.S. defense planning,” the publication noted.