Additional Coverage:
- Russia’s unjammable drones are causing chaos. A tech firm says it has a fix to help Ukraine fight back. (newsbreak.com)
Fiber-Optic Drones Challenge Ukraine
Ukraine faces a new threat from Russian drones equipped with fiber-optic cables. These drones can’t be jammed and are harder to detect, making them highly dangerous.
Ukrainian Efforts to Combat Drones
Kara Dag, a Ukrainian-American tech company, is developing a solution. They’re creating hardware and software to help soldiers find fiber-optic drones.
Features and Advantages of Fiber-Optic Drones
Fiber-optic drones are first-person view (FPV) drones with cables that provide a stable connection. This makes them resistant to electronic warfare and allows for high-quality video transmissions.
Challenges Posed by Fiber-Optic Drones
These drones can fly in tunnels, close to the ground, and through valleys, making them difficult to detect. They can destroy armored vehicles and study enemy positions.
Disadvantages and Efforts to Stop Them
Fiber-optic drones are slower and less maneuverable than untethered drones. Audio and visual detection methods are being explored to stop them, but these technologies are expensive and difficult to manufacture.
Kara Dag’s Solution
Kara Dag has developed a low-cost solution that includes an array of microphones and an unfocused infrared laser. This device can highlight drones in the sky and record any reflected light.
Ongoing Arms Race
The introduction of fiber-optic drones and Ukraine’s efforts to counter them highlight the ongoing arms race in the ongoing conflict. Both Moscow and Kyiv are constantly innovating with uncrewed systems to gain an advantage.