How a new ‘double-edge sword’ weapon is changing warfare in Ukraine

A new kind of weapon is flying under radars – literally – on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Electronic warfare, specifically jamming, is a crucial tactic used by Russian and Ukrainian forces in killing off kamikaze drones, responsible for deadly strikes.

Forces on both sides have figured out a way to make their drones immune to jamming – a thin strand of fibre optic connecting the aircraft to its pilot.

Deploying fibre optic drones has its advantages – it protects from jamming, allowing them to carry explosives to enemy lines. It is also inexpensive in comparison with other weapons.

Yet, that same strength could also be a major liability.

Ivan Stupak, a military expert and ex- officer in Ukraine’s security services, told Metro that the very same cable making the drone immune to jamming can also be traced to the launch site.

It is a double-edged sword, but Ukrainian forces are coming up with ways to swerve such disasters.

Stupak said: ‘The massive side effect in launching fibre optic drones from one current position toward your enemy – so from point A to point B – is that it leaves a trace. The cable itself.

‘Let’s say, you have launched fibre optic drones several times today.

‘The number of cables become significant, and sooner or later your enemy will discover your position.

‘Many Russian and Ukrainian positions have been eliminated like this in the past.’

Stupak explained there are several rules Ukrainian forces adhere to – never launch from command centres and always launch from multiple positions.

He said about this ‘method of secrecy’: ‘It is more useful to switch your position, not to use constantly one launching site to deploy your drones.

‘You have to move constantly from one point to another in the field.’

Soldiers on armoured vehicles also follow the drones, which have a range of up to 12 miles, to cut the cables.

Stupak stressed that fibre optic drones are ‘not a final solution,’ adding that the operation is ‘very complicated’ and it changes all the time.

Russian electronic warfare, locally referred to as ‘Black Magic’, uses a wide range of equipment to block GPS and GSM signals.

They are actively used to disable drones, to set false targets on the radars of air defence systems, to change the flight path of missiles.

Stupak revealed that Ukraine is working on technology to detect Russian fibre optic drones, but so far they remain immune to electronic warfare.

In the meantime, Ukrainian forces are using nets – similar to those used for fishing – to catch fibre optic drones.

The expert said: ‘To prevent equipment being destroyed by the drones, the army establishes special corridors built with a net.

‘The idea is that every drone would get entangled in this net, and it will not hurt you or your transport.’

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