| Martyn K | 03 Mar 2025 7:51 a.m. PST |
Here is a link to a video on the new Fibre Optic Drones. A little worrying that the US is currently trying to get drone jammers for their units – in effect providing a solution to fight last years tech. YouTube link |
Tortorella  | 03 Mar 2025 8:51 a.m. PST |
But the cable can be detected at least, and maybe followed back to the controllers? It reflects light, could be picked up by infrared? And you would still need the jammers I presume… |
| Martyn K | 03 Mar 2025 9:33 a.m. PST |
The cables are like fishing line, so currently all but undetectable. The downsides are:
1) Range – I heard about a 10km limit
2) The drones cannot be reused – they cannot rewind the cable. Not a problem for suicide drones.
3) The cables run the risk, like fishing line, of getting snagged. |
| 35thOVI | 03 Mar 2025 10:00 a.m. PST |
Yes as the war continues and experience is gained, technology will advance. |
 Editor in Chief Bill   | 03 Mar 2025 1:22 p.m. PST |
Seems a defense might be to fire a random barrage to cut the cables. |
| Cuprum2 | 03 Mar 2025 4:50 p.m. PST |
A fiber optic drone is not detected by the standard drone detector that almost every soldier on the front lines now has. This is another very important advantage. According to Russian combat drone operators, the efficiency of fiber optic drones reaches 80%, which is ten percent higher than that of radio-controlled drones. Editor in Chief Bill, I would like to see how you will protect, for example, your own supply routes in this way… Review of the Russian fiber optic drone "Prince Vandal of Novgorod": YouTube link Please note – terrain that is full of trees and bushes is not an obstacle to using a fiber optic drone. YouTube link Russian drones on a free hunt, Kupyansk, February of this year: YouTube link |
| Micman | 03 Mar 2025 5:33 p.m. PST |
Fiber optic cable could be the new left over danger on the battlefield. Along with landmines, unexploded ordnance and other things, fiber will be a challenge to clean up. Fiber can be a hazard when you work with it. Having miles of that glass in thin shielding that can poke into you with no trouble at all will be dangerous to clean up. |
 Dal Gavan | 03 Mar 2025 5:51 p.m. PST |
Not to mention that some bean-counter may want it recovered and repaired. Though fusion splicers and OTDR have probably become easier to use over the years, it would still be a cow of a job |
| smithsco | 03 Mar 2025 9:03 p.m. PST |
If Palmer Luckey is to be believed the US has a solution in the works with IVAS. New helmet being developed with full sensor suite linked with all other sensors with AI built in. Soldiers will be able to detect helicopters visually at 15km. Small drones at 3-5km. The AI will show soldiers where to hide. Can't hit what you can't find. We will see if it works as promised. |
| Cuprum2 | 05 Mar 2025 4:14 a.m. PST |
I'll just leave this here… Using a drone as an anti-tank mine. In the video, a drone (presumably disguised as some kind of garbage) lands on the road and waits for enemy transport to approach (on roads attacked by drones, transport always tries to move at maximum speed). An explosion under the vehicle stops it. Subsequent drones finish off the armored vehicle, causing a fire after which it will be impossible to restore the armored vehicle. link |
| wardog | 09 Mar 2025 2:25 p.m. PST |
tortorella
"But the cable can be detected at least, and maybe followed back to the controllers? It reflects light, could be picked up by infrared?"
came across a story that a ukrainian drone controller did just that and took out the russian drone controller |
