Ukraine is testing fiber optic cables on uncrewed ground vehicles (UGVs), also known as ground drones. The trials, conducted by Brave1, a Ukrainian government-backed defense technology cluster, mark the country’s first known attempt to operate ground drones using hard-wired fiber optic cables instead of traditional radio signals.
Fiber optic control is already used in first-person view (FPV) aerial drones by both Ukraine and Russia. The cables provide a direct, unjammable link between the operator and the drone. They also work well in complex terrain, where radio signals can be blocked.
Inspired by this success, Ukraine is now applying the same method to ground-based drones. In a Facebook post on April 1, Brave1 said it recently tested seven UGV models. The specifications or capabilities of the models were not disclosed.
“We are very interested in the implementation of fiber optic so that our [UGVs] can operate at longer distances and help us destroy the enemy even more effectively,” said Capt. Alexander Jabchanka, Head of the Robotic Systems Service of the Vovki Da Vinci Battalion said. Jabchanka attended the Brave1 testing event, which also featured tests on updated FPV drones controlled by fiber optic.
Brave1 claims the recent tests “proved the viability of optic-fiber-controlled UGVs in specific scenarios.”
Most UGVs currently used by Ukraine carry equipment, deliver supplies, or move the wounded.
In March, Ukrainian National News reported that an Ardal ground drone rescued three injured Ukrainian soldiers who had been stranded near Russian lines for almost a month.
Ukraine has not said when these fiber optic controlled ground drones will be fielded, but Brave1 said further updates would come as development continues. “Our next step involves developing the tactics for their application,” Brave1 told The War Zone. “Our team is currently working on this in collaboration.”
