Since August 2024, the Russian military has been successfully using the FPV drone with fiber optic cable control "Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky" (KVN). The new method of manipulating the device was called "Groza-Leska."
Neutral to the effects of electronic warfare (EW) systems, the fiber optic line provides drone control and video transmission to the operator.
The line is quite fragile — if bent, it breaks easily. However, statistics on fiber optic breaks do not exceed 1–2 cases per 10 launches. The clarity of the image transmitted by the drone before the strike is excellent. There are no signals here that can be suppressed, intercepted, or influenced by electronic warfare means.
The working range of flight is 6–10 km. Thanks to the large power reserve, the KVN slowly hovers over enemy positions at an altitude of 2–10 m, observing the situation, and then attacks the selected target.
At the end of November, fiber optic drones began to be equipped with night vision cameras. Now the KVN combines the functions of a reconnaissance and strike kamikaze drone.
The tactical and technical characteristics of the FPV drone "Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky" are not disclosed. With a high degree of probability, the device, like other small FPV quadcopters, has a total mass with a battery of up to 1.5–1.9 kg, is capable of speeds up to 100–140 km/h, and carries ammunition weighing up to 3–4 kg. The mass of the fiber optic reels themselves is unknown.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense showed footage of strikes on heavy equipment using FPV drones from the Rubikon advanced unmanned technology test center.
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