Conflict in Ukraine: Exploration of Stealthy Drones Employed by Russia, Remaining Practically Invisible to Radar Detectors
Let's Dive into the Nitty-Gritty of those Jam-Proof Drones in the Ukraine Conflict
The Russkies are pulling some high-tech shenanigans on the Ukrainians during the ongoing Kursk offensive. They're using a unique breed of drones called the Prince Vandal of Novgorod (KVN), claimed to be unbeatable by electronic warfare systems.
Andrei Nikitin, the bigwig of Novgorod, Russia, spilled the beans on his Telegram channel about these bad boys being used on a grand scale.
But what makes them different from your run-of-the-mill drones? These modified first-person view drones deploy a super lightweight fiber-optic wire instead of traditional radio transmission. Taking flight, they leave a virtually invisible trail of fiber-optic cable behind, making them virtually undetectable to enemy spy teams.
According to James Patton Rogers of the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, this fibre-optic setup means the drones don't emit radio signals, which can usually track a drone's location or its operator.
This ain't the first time the drone war between Russia and Ukraine escalated. Just this week, the Russians unleashed a flock of over 100 drones on Ukraine's energy systems. In response, the Ukrainians launched their largest drone assault on Moscow, pushing through the Russian lines during the Kursk offensive.
How the Fiber-Optic Drones Work
A Ukrainian military blogger, Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, managed to get his hands on a Russian fiber-optic drone in March. He describe it as a first-person view (FPV) drone with a strange plastic housing sporting roughly 10.8 km of fiber-optic cable.
Instead of a transceiver, the fibre-optic cable takes the place where other FPV drones have their transmitters. While this setup means the drone doesn't spew radio waves, it does provide a crystal-clear video feed to the operator, no matter the interference.
Noah Sylvia, a research analyst on emerging tech at the UK's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), says this is a game changer. Flying a drone without a transmitter means it doesn't give away its location or the operator's identity, making these drones a tough nut to crack.
The Catches
While these drones may seem invincible, they've got their limitations. Unlike traditional FPV drones, the fiber-optic ones require more battery power or stronger engines to cope with the added weight of the cable, which can make them surprisingly pricey.
There's also the risk that the extra weight may slow them down and limit their range. Sylvia points out that these fancy drones can't zip around like their lighter counterparts because they're weighed down by the fiber-optic cable.
So, Why Russia's Using Them
Part of Ukraine's initial success during the Kursk offensive came from using various electronic warfare tactics that disabled Russian surveillance systems. To counter this, Russia's turning to fiber-optic drones in large numbers.
"I think that's why fiber-optic cable has been used more, because we haven't seen the Ukrainians use electronic warfare in a maneuver setting like this before," Sylvia explains.
Neither the Ukrainian military nor German drone manufacturer HIGHCAT, who's claimed to have developed a similar drone, the HCX, have responded to requests for comment.
- The unique fiber-optic drones, like the Russian Prince Vandal of Novgorod, are being used in the Ukraine conflict, leaving a nearly invisible trail due to their fiber-optic wire setup that prevents radio signal emissions.
- Despite their benefits, these fiber-optic drones often come with setbacks, such as requiring more battery power or stronger engines to manage the added weight of the cable, which can make them pricey compared to traditional drones.
- Russia is increasingly turning to fiber-optic drones to counter Ukraine's electronic warfare tactics during the ongoing Kursk offensive, as these drones' fiber-optic cable lessens their vulnerability to electronic jamming.
