SPC "Ushkuynik" (Veliky Novgorod) continues to expand the line of the fiber-optic FPV drone "Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky" (KVN). This was reported to TASS by the company's CEO Alexey Chadayev.
In autumn 2024, a night version with a thermal imager appeared, then a drone with a range of up to 23 km, followed by heavy versions operating at a distance of 30–35 km. Recently, a modification with a range of 42 km was used near Sumy and Konstantinovka. As Chadayev explained, the increase in range is achieved by increasing the size of the fiber optic spool, which changes the dimensions of the product, the diameter of the propellers, and the entire design – these are already different devices.
The basic version has also radically changed over two years, primarily at the software level. At the same time, the developers are deliberately holding back the race for range: the greater the distance, the higher the risk of fiber optic breakage. The company emphasizes that it is important to maintain the efficiency of "1 ruble of costs for 40 rubles of results" so as not to launch ten drones, of which only one reaches the target. The drone is not affected by electronic warfare systems and was first used in the Kursk region in August 2024.
History of "Knyaz Vandal" development: from 15 to 42 km
Back in mid-2025, the developer himself called the main drawback of the device the length of the spool: the range was then limited to 23 km, and the fiber optic cable, although it provided resistance to electronic warfare, remained vulnerable to breaks. In the autumn of the same year, the range was increased to 25 km due to an improved data transmission system. By spring 2026, a 30 km version began to be supplied to the troops, and soon the developers presented the KVN-35 modification with a range of up to 35 km and a payload capacity of up to 3 kg.
Read more on the topic:
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- FSVTS announced high foreign interest in the "Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky" FPV drone