Unjammable drones are leaving wires everywhere, forcing Ukrainian troops to move with caution

• Russia and Ukraine are increasingly turning to small unmanned aerial vehicles controlled via fiber optic cables.

• These drones scatter fiber optic cables all over the battlefield.

• A Ukrainian special operator said he urged the soldiers to act carefully.

Small, incompressible drones controlled by fiber optic cables Russia and Ukraine have become such an integral part of combat operations that they leave cable trails everywhere, turning the battlefield into a complex network.

As a comprehensive opposite electronic warfareFiber optic drones are becoming increasingly common on both sides. Soldiers move more carefully because of the cables stretching across the battlefield.

“You see small networks and you never know; is it coming from the fiber optic drone? Or is it part of the booby trap?” Khyzhak, a Ukrainian private operator who can only be identified by his call sign (“Predator” in Ukrainian) for security reasons, told Business Insider. he said. Mines and traps were also among the prominent threats in this war.

At the beginning of the war, first person perspective (FPV) drones (small quadcopter-style drones used by both Russia and Ukraine, often carrying explosive warheads) relied on radio frequency links. But both sides quickly figured out how to use this method. signal jamming to stop them.

In response, Russia and Ukraine have begun developing fiber-optic FPV drones that connect to their pilots using long, thin cable spools. The cables maintained a stable connection and made the quadcopters resistant to traditional electronic warfare tactics.

Best chance for soldiers to stop fiber optic drones hit them But this requires precision, fast reaction times and a lot of luck.

Fiber optic cables, which provide the biggest advantage to these drones, also pose the biggest security vulnerability. mixed into the environment and stop the flight suddenly. Even if they don’t tangle, the cables still remain covered on the battlefield after use.

Khyzhak, a soldier in the 4th Ranger Regiment, Ukrainian special operations The unit, modeled after its U.S. Army counterparts, said it’s common to see fiber optic cables everywhere because these drones are increasingly used and the cables often get stuck in trees and fields.

4th Ranger Regiment Earlier this month, combat footage was shared showing Khyzhak, along with two other operators and their driver, narrowly avoiding a Russian fiber optic drone attack as they returned to base after a front-line mission.

The images show fiber optic cables strewn across the field next to the road and even Khyzhak’s gun.

“He was everywhere,” he recalled, talking about the driver’s incident in September. maneuvered skillfully He moved out of the path of the Russian drone, which exploded on the side of the road.

Other video footage from the battlefield shows how fiber optic cables cross like spider websSometimes it can only be seen in direct sunlight or when viewed from a certain angle.

Khyzhak said the cables are particularly disruptive during night missions, when special operators cannot use as much light. He described them as a “tactical matter”.

Soldiers can’t always tell right away whether it’s a harmless fiber optic cable or something much more dangerous. booby trap. This forces them to think carefully about whether they should call an engineer, destroy the network with explosives, stop, or move forward.

This can certainly slow down the mission, Khyzhak said, and becomes a bigger concern as special operators move closer to the front lines or if they’re working. Secretly in Russian-held territory.

There is Ukraine and Russia expanded production The number of fiber optic drones has increased in the past year, and both sides are racing to develop models that can fly farther to the front lines.

For example, Russia has started using fiber optic unmanned aerial vehicles. 50 kilometers (31 miles) range exceeds what most known variants can travel. Cable length typically limits their range to between 10 and 25 kilometers (roughly 6 to 15 miles).

In Ukraine, fiber optic drones have become such a threat to critical supply routes that soldiers covered the roads with nets It is used to protect vehicles against attacks, although it does not always guarantee the security of the vehicles.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s defense industry is just developing countermeasures This is to defend against drones. Innovations attracted attention NATO leadershipHe uses the lessons of war to shape his own military planning.

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