- Ukraine’s defense industry is boosting the production of fiber-optic drones.
- These drones are a major threat in combat because they’re immune to electronic warfare defenses.
- Ukrainian drone makers say there was initial skepticism of this tech, but now it’s in high demand.
Ukraine’s expanding defense industry is now ramping up production of new fiber-optic drones that can be converted into unjammable flying bombs. They can evade electronic shields and deliver precision strikes.
These drones have emerged as a solution to electronic warfare, which Ukraine and Russia use to render enemy weapons ineffective. Electronic systems interference is a major element of the high-stakes technology race driving combat innovation.
Business Insider spoke with several people directly involved in Ukrainian efforts to scale up the fiber-optic drone production. Some said there was skepticism at first about how the tech would perform in practice, but these weapons are now in high demand. They are seen as an essential part of a rapidly evolving battlefield.
Fiber-optic drones are first-person view drones that can carry a small explosive payload, but instead of relying on a radio frequency connection that is vulnerable to electronic signal jamming, these drones are equipped with spools of long, thin cables that offer them a stable connection over a range of several miles.
The fiber-optic cables maintain a reliable link between the drone and the operator, making them quite dangerous because they are resistant to traditional electronic warfare practices. They are difficult to defend against and provide high-quality video transmissions.
Russia introduced fiber-optic drones on the battlefield last year, and the technology became more prominent by the fall. The possibilities were clear, and it wasn’t long before the Ukrainians started operating the drones in combat.
Ukrainian developers first started working on fiber-optic drone tech in 2023, Nataliia Kushnerska, a senior executive in Ukraine’s defense industry, told BI.
“That year saw the creation of the first prototypes and initial testing conducted by the manufacturers themselves,” said Kushnerska, the chief operating officer of Brave1, a Ukrainian government operation that facilitates innovation within the defense industry.
“Today, Ukrainian producers have already transitioned to serial production of these systems,” she said.
Brave1 works with fiber-optic drone manufacturers, giving them support, such as providing testing sites and organizing demonstrations. It also connects Ukrainian security and military forces with companies so they can place orders.
Kushnerska said dozens of teams across the country are working on fiber-optic drones now, and the number is only growing. She said some of the companies can produce thousands of these drones each month.
An essential part of a changing battlefield
Max, the CEO of the Kyiv-based company BattleBorn, which develops and makes fiber-optic drones, told BI that he first heard about these drones last spring but was skeptical about the tech because he did not think it would be practical in combat.
Many of the Ukrainian industry figures BI spoke with requested anonymity due to the security situation in their country. BI verified their roles in the industry.
Volodymyr, co-founder of a Ukrainian drone-making company called Fold, said that the military and industry were suspicious of the fiber-optic drone technology. “At first, no one believed in this idea,” he said in translated remarks shared with BI.
The big concerns were that environmental obstacles like trees or buildings would cut the fiber-optic cables and that drones would only be able to operate along straight roads.
But as time went on, drone manufacturers began to realize that the addition of fiber-optic cables would be a suitable modification to their drones, said Volodymyr. By mid-2024, it was clear they were a necessary addition to the modern battlefield.
“As it turned out, they were much more practical than expected,” Max shared. Companies like BattleBorn and Fold are turning up production and trying to improve their operations — and they are not alone.
Oleksii, a representative of Warbirds of Ukraine, a Kyiv-based company, told BI that it took a while for fiber-optic drones to become popular because there wasn’t enough demand. Manufacturing and scaling up production also presented technical challenges.
But as electronic warfare tactics increasingly interfered with typical communication channels, a need for some sort of solution became apparent. Warbirds of Ukraine started developing fiber-optic drones in the fall, and now it can produce 700 systems a month.
Fiber-optic drones are not without their hassles, though. Producing the thin cables is a complicated and technical process, and they are fragile, making them physically vulnerable to damage in a warfighting environment.
Manufacturers also have to leave room on their drones for the spools that carry the fiber-optic cables, reducing their explosive payload. Additionally, the drones are slower and less maneuverable than those that use radio communication.
But these weapons have the potential to be game changers.
Oleksii said that the fiber-optic drones “are essential because they remain operational in electronic warfare environments. When used with the right technology, they can significantly improve the accuracy of strikes.”
“This is one of the evolutionary steps in developing new approaches to counter electronic warfare systems,” he added.
Fiber-optic drones are just one new area of focus for Ukraine’s booming defense industry. The country is also producing homemade artillery, missiles, and other weapons to meet front-line demands.
