Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s 414th Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Strike Battalion, known as “Magyar’s Birds,” released a video on his Telegram channel demonstrating the successful interception of a Russian fiber-optic-controlled first-person view (FPV) drone. While Brovdi praised the radar system’s capabilities and role in the interception, he did not specify the exact type of radar in use.
⚡️ “Птахи Мадяра” отримали детектори дронів на оптоволокні
Для Сил оборони розробили мобільний радіолокаційну станцію, яка виявляє дрон на декілька кілометрів. На оприлюдненому відео, українському дрону вдалося виявити та перехопити російський дрон на оптоволокні.
Імовірно,… pic.twitter.com/9szEfETpO0
— Мілітарний (@mil_in_ua) January 29, 2025
The “Magyar’s Birds” brigade has reportedly acquired advanced detection technology capable of identifying fiber-optic drones. According to Brovdi, the unit is now equipped with mobile radar stations designed to detect drones at significant distances.
Fiber-optic drones have emerged as a major but also practical technological breakthrough in drone warfare, as they are impervious to electronic warfare (EW) measures like jamming. Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have increasingly adopted fiber-optic systems, with Ukraine striving to scale up its production to match Russia’s capabilities. The intercepted Russian drone is believed to be the “Vandal” (or “Prince Vandal of Novgorod”), a fiber-optic-controlled UAV that Ukrainian forces have previously recovered.
The 414th brigade recently unveiled its own fiber-optic FPV drone model capable of operating at distances of up to 41 kilometers. The fiber-optic connection ensures a secure, interference-free link between the drone and its operator while also providing higher-resolution footage compared to conventional radio-controlled drones. Reports indicate that Ukraine is ramping up production, with an estimated 1,000 units currently in development.
NEW: Ukraine developed a fiber-optic drone with a range of over 41 km, potentially capable of targeting deep defense positions, including long-range artillery, MLRS, and medium-range air defense systems.
Production of up to 1,000 units is reportedly in progress. pic.twitter.com/6m6HU0Ybut
— Clash Report (@clashreport) January 22, 2025
Brovdi stressed the importance of deploying mobile radar systems along the front lines to counter the growing threat of fiber-optic drones. He proposed a network of radars positioned every 2 to 4 kilometers to enhance detection and interception capabilities. Additionally, he highlighted ongoing drone production efforts, revealing plans for an upcoming batch of 1,100 UAVs and a long-term production target of 1,000 units per month.
Fiber-optic drones are physically tethered to a spool of fiber-optic cable that unspools like a fishing line as they fly, ensuring a secure, interference-free connection with their operator. Chinese companies have publicly demonstrated such drones online, and many of Russia’s fiber-optic drone components and systems are believed to originate from Chinese suppliers.
Chinese Showcase Commercial Drone Controlled by Fiber Optics
Such drones are protected from electronic warfare. The Russian analogue – the FPV drone ” Prince Vandal Novgorodsky ” has already been successfully used in the Kursk region.
Now, the Chinese company Skywalker… pic.twitter.com/WO8TVo5ieu
— SIMPLICIUS Ѱ (@simpatico771) August 18, 2024
