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Ukraine Tests FPV Drone With Fiber-Optic Control and RPG-75 Grenade Launcher, Video

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Ivan Khomenko
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Ukraine Tests FPV Drone With Fiber-Optic Control and RPG-75 Grenade Launcher, Video
Queen Hornet drone with fiber-optic spool and RPG-75 launcher during field test. (Source: KHORT Battalion video)

Ukrainian forces have tested a new FPV drone equipped with a single-use RPG-75 anti-tank grenade launcher and connected via a fiber-optic cable, according to video footage released by the 420th Separate Battalion of Unmanned Systems “KHORT.”

The drone, designated Queen Hornet, underwent combat trials under the command of Operational Command “North.”

While the fiber-optic control system was not directly confirmed, the visual characteristics of the footage suggest that the drone used a digital video transmission system operating over a fiber-optic tether.

This configuration allows for uninterrupted communication in environments where enemy electronic warfare (EW) systems are active. It also enhances image quality, aiding in target acquisition and strike precision. Despite a successful launch of the RPG, the video indicates that the warhead did not detonate upon impact.

The Queen Hornet drone, with a 15-inch frame, is capable of carrying up to 9.5 kilograms over 5 kilometers or 6 kilograms over a distance of 17 kilometers. The RPG-75 used in the test is a Czech-made disposable anti-tank launcher weighing 3.2 kilograms, firing a 68mm shaped-charge grenade.

The grenade is designed to penetrate up to 300 millimeters of armor steel. Its effective range is up to 300 meters, with a maximum flight distance of approximately 1,000 meters.

The drone’s remaining payload capacity is sufficient to accommodate a fiber-optic spool weighing between 1.5 and 2 kilograms, enabling potential control ranges of 15 to 20 kilometers.

Earlier, Ukraine conducted its first confirmed strike using a grenade launcher mounted on the Queen Hornet FPV drone, marking a significant advancement in drone warfare. The reusable UAV was equipped with a Bulgarian Bulspike-AP anti-personnel grenade launcher, which fired an OG-22M fragmentation grenade against Russian forces, according to Wild Hornets on May 13.

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