Ukraine tests fibre-optic FPV drones with a range of 40 km
Ukrainian fibre-optic FPV drones can now hit the enemy at a distance of more than 40 km and stay connected even in the toughest electronic warfare conditions. This was announced by Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, on Telegram, stressing that three months ago the flight range was limited to 20 km. The leap in capabilities was the result of cooperation between developers, the military and the Brave1 platform.
Fibre-optic drones use a cable to transmit signals, so they cannot be jammed or intercepted by electronic warfare. This ensures continuous control, stable video stream and precision strikes even deep behind enemy lines. This technology is particularly effective in environments where standard radio-controlled drones lose communication.
According to Fedorov, the development of fibre-optic solutions has become the "new normal" for Ukrainian forces. These drones not only change the rules of the game on the battlefield, but also demonstrate how quickly the defence industry adapts to the needs of the frontline. Systematic work makes it possible to create tools that can destroy the enemy at great depths with precision and accuracy.
About FPV drones
FPV drones (First Person View) are unmanned aerial vehicles that are controlled by an operator in the first person using an onboard camera and goggles or a monitor that broadcasts real-time video. In military environments, such drones are used for reconnaissance, fire adjustment, and targeting due to their high manoeuvrability and accuracy. Classic FPV models operate on a radio channel, but in electronic warfare (EW) environments, the signal can be easily jammed, so fibre-optic solutions have emerged: the drone pulls a cable that transmits control and video. This ensures stable communication even in jamming environments and allows targets to be hit at a distance of 40+ km. The cost of FPV drones is significantly lower than cruise missiles, and their modularity allows them to be equipped with explosives, thermal imagers, and other payloads, making them a formidable weapon in modern warfare.
To recap, we wrote about how electronic warfare and electronic warfare affect the warfare with FPV drones.
Source: FEDOROV telegram channel