Russia's innovative "wired" drones: A new era in combat technology
5:46 AM EST, March 8, 2024
As seen in Ukraine, drones have become vital tools in modern military conflicts. Daily, new footage shows the successful targeting of Russian units and military equipment with these relatively low-cost devices. They are easy to use and lethal, a fact Russian soldiers are becoming all too familiar with.
However, Russia has its fleet of drones and even imports them, such as the Shahed drones from Iran, which cost around $50,000 each. In a bid for cost efficiency, Russian innovation has taken a unique turn.
Serhij Flash reported on a "strange Russian FPV drone" spotted on the front some time ago. With assistance from Magyar, they captured one of these drones. Preliminary research revealed that it was controlled using optical fiber, with a spool carrying about 6.2 miles of the material attached - as shared in a post on the X (formerly Twitter) platform by Technicznybgp.
The post outlines the advantages and disadvantages of this creative strategy. It emphasizes the necessity of high-quality cable, though it notes that controllability suffers as a result.
A significant benefit of this approach is its total immunity to Electronic Warfare (EW). The downside is practically no maneuverability, risking cable breakage if any attempt at complex movements is made.
EW, or "Electronic Warfare," involves using electronic measures to disrupt enemy signals and prevent attacks through electromagnetic pulses. The wired drone is touted as immune to such interference, but its vulnerability lies in the potential for its tethering cable to be severed.
