Fiber optic drones used in warfare
Does anyone know the actual limitations of fiber optic data cables in relation to their usage in battlefield drones? Are most drones shot down or jammed near their targets?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ar-AA1OmmVM
Why are they saying this is limited to 12 miles by the maximum length of the fiber optic cable? You can easily extend the range of fiber optic drones. First, you must realize that the advantages fiber optic cables have to eliminate most jamming etc only matter in areas where there will likely be jamming. If the current range is 12 miles, likely only the last 6, or possibly even less will face the threat of jamming... So just have a repeater / receiver get radio signals from the operator, then the drone drops that off at the 6 mile mark or whatever, then it flies the final leg via fiber optic wire.
If needed, you could have multiple drones together carrying that receiver if it's not tiny and/or light enough, then they all fly out from it like a mother ship once it's set down.
Obviously, actual intel on the location of potential jamming would dictate where the transition point is etc
Also, could you just use a repeater between two 12 mile spools that is eventually dropped to double the range?
Based on the most helpful WSO content, the use of fiber optic cables in battlefield drones is an intriguing concept, especially for mitigating jamming threats. However, there are practical limitations and considerations:
Range Limitation: The 12-mile range mentioned likely refers to the physical constraints of the fiber optic cable being carried by the drone. While fiber optics are excellent for secure, high-speed data transmission, the cable's length and weight become significant factors. Extending the range with repeaters or spools is theoretically possible, but it introduces logistical challenges, such as deploying and managing these repeaters in a combat zone.
Jamming and Transition Points: Your idea of using a repeater/receiver to transition from radio signals to fiber optics is sound in theory. This approach could allow the drone to operate securely in the final leg of its mission where jamming is most likely. However, the feasibility depends on the size, weight, and power requirements of the repeater/receiver, as well as the drone's payload capacity.
Multiple Drones as a "Mothership": Deploying multiple drones to carry and deploy a receiver or repeater is an innovative idea. However, coordinating such a system would require advanced communication protocols and could increase the risk of detection or failure if one component is compromised.
Operational Challenges: Battlefield conditions, such as terrain, weather, and enemy countermeasures, could complicate the deployment of fiber optic drones and their support systems. Additionally, the cost and complexity of such systems might limit their practicality compared to other technologies.
While your suggestions are creative and could theoretically extend the range and effectiveness of fiber optic drones, the real-world application would depend on overcoming these logistical and technical hurdles.
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Why tf is this on wso and nkt Reddit
Sorry, what is the npv of using final stage fiber optic attack drones compared to only fiber optic drones with less range. How does this npv compare with traditional missiles?
There you go
Funny thing is you can actually model it looking at the similar way you’d look at NPV. Actually probably more complicated because value is multi dimensional.
"President Zelensky, as requested, please find attached the updated trading comps of optic drones and traditional missiles in the excel attached"
Maybe it should be?
Weight.
To expand (and thumbs up, brother) a 'drone' is essentially a fancy RC helicopter. It has to carry itself, the weight of any payload with it. Fiber optics can span oceans, but you need shielding that increases with distance. Guess what? That RC Helicopter can't carry the extra weight. I bet 12mi isn't a hard limit, it's just the point where things become impractical.
The fact that this isn't common knowledge has always been shocking to me.
While weight limitations are an obvious issue, I wasn't sure if the 12 mile limitation was purely weight related, or if there were also other issues, like being able to reliably mfg multiple miles of super thin fiber with no cracks, defects, etc. That is why I mentioned two spools instead of the much simpler "bigger spool".
Think about it from an engineering/mfg perspective, we aren't talking about standard fiber optic cable, they are pushing the limits of fiber optic cables in ways that haven't really had much demand previously, trying to make them much thinner and lighter than normal. It could very well be an engineering limit among other issues related to any number of things like defects or getting the strands safely packed into spools, etc.
12 miles of length is a non issue. It is purely a weight constraint, while volume is another concern but that is mostly in the context of constrained dimension delivery platforms because the more space you take up with wire the less payload you can deliver.
Another reason is purely geographical undulations and distruptions. There is no way a drone can carry a mile long suspension behind it with out it getting tangled up in obstacles radically reducing its operational coverage trajectory.
If you are unaware a variant of the TOW missile uses a guidance wire that can allow the laucher to make small corretions inflight. The missle carries something between 1.5x to 2x the operational range in wire length to prevent it getting caught up in trees and breaking. This isn't a huge concern in this usecase because it is propelled by a solid fuel rocket motor and flies a very predictable flight pattern.
Now back to the fibre optic wire itself, the glass filiment isn't an issue. It is the protective coating that needs to go on it. Sure you can make fibre optic wires in the low double digit grams per mile, but the coating is the issue. You have to contain the light inside of the glass conduit, this requires that all outside light be blocked. Simply shining a light through a barebone glass conduit can completely disrupt the integrity of the signal. Remember the signal can be completely compromised if as little as 1% of it is corrupted. We are talking about real time guidance controls here, not encoded messages with dozens of redundancy points that can be used to piece together context.
12 mi is probably the maximum distance needed for a soldier on the frontlines with skin in the game in destroying an enemy objective - either it kills him and/or his friends or he kills them.
If you’ve seen any battle footages, they’re flying drones in a flat area that’s like half open fields and half forests with lots of enemy objectives hidden in the trenches somewhere in the forest.
Assuming 50% fiber gets stuck on trees, effective mission distance is like 6 miles and you tell me if it’s faster for a dude to run around finding an objective and then attack it in an area with 6 mile radius or have a drone watching over and can strike it within minutes?
Missiles are expensive AF and running bombing missions is risky. Artillery shells aren’t cheap either.
Here are some interestingarticles discussing some of the issues preventing longer range outside of purely weight that they are continously working to overcome and improve:
https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-company-makes-new-fiber-optic-drone-100-kilometer-reach-2025-8
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/07/24/ukraines-upgraded-fiber-drones-are-deadlier-at-longer-ranges/
In your opinion, do thise photos seem to show coated or uncoated fiber optic cables? I keep reading about tons of used fiber optic cables covering battlefields "shimmering in the sun" which seems to indicate uncoated.
Barebones fiber optics can weigh as little as 27g/km. Mind you that’s like 0.15 lbs/mile.
Electronic signal sent to drones are pretty simple so they’re very likely using bare bones cables.
Edit: NVM Google says they can carry maybe like 2-5kg of payload and most of that needs to be explosives.
I would be willing to bet that a radio reciever, like what is already common in RC drones doesnt weigh very much (just a guess), so even if you swapped out a reciever and only left 6 miles of fiber, that could signifigantly increase their capacity for explosives and/or batteries along with its range. Since there are reports of drones from Ukraine flying hundreds of miles now, having 6 miles of fiber for the final approach might still be very beneficial for those cases to prevent jamming. Thats assuming that those drones arent already immunne to jamming via AI navigation etc. Maybe you need to add a little weight to the reciever so it can attach to the top of a tree and get a better signal, but that can be done without much weight. This also assumes most drones are jammed near their targets, vs an even distribution throughout their flight.
Have you guys watched footage of these drones in action? Some crazy videos available. Kind of weird watching them.
Yeah, they show up on my social media feed from time to time. Its pretty crazy how drones have changed modern warfare so quickly. Even just recon drones alone have dramatically changed how warfare works. They have essentially turned artillery into super powerful sniper rifles so to speak.
Id check out the ones on the nsfw sites for truly wild stuff.
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