If you have been keeping up with the advancements in military drone technology spurred on by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, you will be aware of the use of wired drones equipped with fibre-optic cables on both sides. Whilst wireless drones are still in use, the growth of electronic warfare and signal jamming has hindered their efficacy massively since the start of the war. These fibre-optic drones, immune to electronic warfare and therefore more likely to hit a target, have been considered a vital advancement in Ukrainian defence tech. Whilst they are undoubtedly a valuable asset to both the Ukrainian and Russian militaries, there are unintended consequences of their use which in their short battlefield life span, are already being felt. 

The Russian military first began to make use of fibre-optic drones to prevent signal jamming in the Spring of 2024, with Ukraine following suit shortly after. Firstly, an important consideration to make is the manufacturing process and where the components are bought. As it stands, Ukraine is able to produce the components required but only on a small scale. This means that in order to avoid long delays from Ukrainian companies, the self procuring units must rely in part on Chinese manufacturers. Purchasing from a country which has implicitly supported the Russian war effort by manufacturing weaponry and drone components, and abstaining from votes in the UN regarding the condemnation of the invasion, is far from ideal.

Another major issue with the use of fibre-optic cables is the risk of entanglement, both in relation to animals and to vehicles/UGVs (unmanned ground vehicles). Once the war is over there will be a significant and obvious environmental cost, with fibre-optic cables contributing to a part of it. They are difficult to retrieve (and so often are single-use) and incredibly unlikely to degrade, so an accumulation of the cables has already started to occur. Footage has emerged of trucks which have become entangled and inoperable, putting soldiers in an incredibly vulnerable position. Another aspect to consider is the use of UGVs, which are in operation in Ukraine assisting with evacuation and transportation of equipment. If a UGV becomes tangled, the benefit of using them disappears as they either are lost or have to be rescued, increasing the risk of human cost. It is even unclear as to what the effects will be on mine clearance vehicles, and whether mine flails will become tangled and unusable.

These drones are a relatively new feature on the battlefield and the implications of their use are already being experienced. It is unclear as to whether the rewards will outweigh the potential future risks as the war continues.