Controlled by an ultra-light optical cable that can extend over several kilometres, this drone is a formidable weapon against electronic jamming on the battlefield.
In the spring, Ukraine had discovered a prototype on the battlefield. In appearance, it was a simple FPV (First Person View) drone with an explosive charge: these small drones equipped with a camera, piloted remotely in immersion, and which dot the front line. But instead of the radio transmitter and receiver, a mysterious box was attached, containing a spool of wire several kilometers long.
Since the start of the Ukrainian offensive in August in the Kursk region, Russia has claimed for the first time to have used this type of drone on the battlefield. “The enemy will be defeated”said Russian Governor of Novgorod Oblast Andrei Nikitin on Telegram, assuring that the Russian army had deployed a device called «Knèze Vandal»named after a prince of Novgorod, and equipped with a “revolutionary communication and control technology”.
Rudimentary in some respects, the principle of the drone “wire-guided” is actually very simple. Instead of being radio-controlled, which makes the devices vulnerable to the electronic jamming systems that Ukrainian armored vehicles are equipped with, the drone is steered by an ultra-light fiber optic cable, deployed along its entire flight path. Without emitting any radio signals, the drone – and its operator – is therefore undetectable and cannot be diverted from its target.
This is an undeniable advantage on the ground, especially in this Russo-Ukrainian war where both sides are increasingly equipping themselves with new means of electromagnetic defense to foil the targeting of the enemy’s missiles and drones, whether with cannons, rifles that send a narrow beam of radio waves or conventional anti-drone jammers. The French Chief of Staff of the Army, General Pierre Schill, declared last July that 75% of drones in Ukraine were shot down by electronic systems, that is to say by breaking the link between the machine and the operator.
Slower
The optical fiber also allows the transmission of excellent quality images to the pilot, the signal being returned intact, without obstacles or interference. Thus, when the drone dives at low altitude on its target, the operator maintains visual contact until the last moment.
This type of drone does have some drawbacks, however. It requires more power to pull the wire, which, despite its lightness, is an obvious constraint over such a long distance. Above all, the drone is slower and less maneuverable, with the pilot having to take precautions to prevent the wire from breaking, whereas the strength of the classic FPV drone is precisely that it is fast and maneuverable to prevent the opponent from anticipating its trajectory and movements.
The wire-guided drone is therefore not necessarily the ideal solution, but it gives an undeniable advantage in electronic warfare. The principle could also be improved. According to the American media Forbesthe German company Highcat has developed a similar wire-guided drone, capable of traveling up to 20 kilometers. “The fiber is quite strong – flying over trees and water is no problem”explained founder Jan Hartmann, adding that the force exerted on the device did not exceed 250 grams. “The drone can also fly in circles and even backwards.”
French drone
Even more ambitious, the Chimera drone, manufactured by a French entrepreneur, can carry, according to its designer, a 155mm shell (like the Caesar cannons) with a 50 kilometer long wire. “There is no longer any need for radio frequency. The Chimera is invisible! The most sophisticated jamming systems, especially those of the Russians, are useless.”explained its designer in June to ParisianAccording to him, the 78 kg drone can fly up to 400 meters above sea level with a shell weighing more than 40 kg.
While the principle is being developed more than ever in the wake of the war in Ukraine, it is not new. In the 1970s, the US Army developed TOW anti-tank missiles, controlled by a copper wire. To counter electronic jamming, solutions using artificial intelligence are also being explored.
According to Forbesmore innovative solutions would be explored to thwart electronic jamming. The Ukrainian army would have tested drones equipped with artificial intelligence that allows the pilot to lock on to a target. The machine can thus reach its objective even if it loses contact with its pilot.
