Reference News Network, August 7 report: Australia's Lowy Institute website published an article on August 6 titled "Fiber-Optic Drones Are Changing the Tech War in Ukraine," authored by David Krychenko. The article is excerpted as follows:

Fiber-optic drones have played a more critical role in the war in Ukraine. Frontline soldiers call this conflict "a war of drones."

Because radio-controlled drones are vulnerable to electronic interference, a new type of drone has emerged, connected to operators via thin-as-hair fiber-optic cables. These drones not only cannot be electronically interfered with, but also cannot be detected by traditional electronic warfare systems.

By mid-2024, Russia began deploying fiber-optic drones on the battlefield, gradually weakening Kyiv's technological advantage. These drones played a key role in the success of Russia's Kursk offensive. Now the same tactics are being replicated across the front line: using motorcycles for rapid drone raids, pressuring Ukrainian flanks, attempting to encircle defenders, and using fiber-optic drones to strike Ukrainian supply lines and vehicles.

Ukrainian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Alexander Syrskyi admitted that "in terms of quantity and application scope," Russia currently holds an advantage in the fiber-optic drone competition. Kyiv has been working hard to catch up with Russia's fiber-optic advantage.

So far, there are no large-scale countermeasures against these fiber-optic drones. According to experienced personnel, a shotgun is an option, or even scissors or knives - if the cable can be seen when the drone passes by. There are some high-tech solutions, including AI-enabled automatic gun turrets equipped with radar and camera sensors that can shoot down drones without human intervention, but these devices are expensive and still require manual maintenance, reloading, and refueling.

Suppliers of raw materials for Ukrainian drones often supply both Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine is trying to diversify its supply chain, such as looking to India. India also produces fiber-optic cables.

Ukrainian drone pilots prefer first-person view (FPV) drones over larger fixed-wing drones for reconnaissance missions. A drone operator from the 110th Independent Mechanized Brigade's Unmanned Systems Company told me that fixed-wing systems "work best when observed from 300 meters above," but the usual observation height is closer to 500 to 600 meters. The soldier said, "It's difficult to spot anything from this height. Fiber-optic drones can take pictures from half a meter above the ground, or 3 meters, 10 meters, or 100 meters. It's much easier to find targets this way."

The typical range of fiber-optic drones is 10 to 20 kilometers, although some devices can reach over 30 kilometers. The soldier said, "But to do this, you need to fly low and straight to prevent the cable from sagging or getting caught on obstacles." In winter, the cable may become visible due to frost, making it easier to detect.

In response to battlefield needs, some Ukrainian companies have begun producing next-generation fiber-optic drones with a range of 30 kilometers, specifically designed for low-altitude ambushes.

Russia's motorcycle assaults use fiber-optic drones with deadly striking capabilities. Standard FPV drones first clear the way, then fiber-optic drones directly fly into bunkers, forcing defenders to evacuate immediately. Sometimes as many as 10 motorcycles follow (even 5 can quickly cause chaos). Some elite Russian drone units have effectively used this technology to launch deep strikes against Ukrainian rear positions, crippling Ukrainian logistics and command nodes.

Due to these drone attacks, Ukraine is facing a severe shortage of trucks, pick-ups, and armored transport vehicles, which are being destroyed more and more frequently. Along the entire frontline, it has become common for trucks to be temporarily reinforced with metal cages to protect against drone attacks.

Sometimes, the most practical solution - such as fiber-optic technology - has proven to be the most effective. The technological competition on the Ukrainian battlefield is rapidly advancing, and armies around the world will be watching closely. (Translated by Cao Weiguo)

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7535675750867829257/

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