Ukraine’s New 50-km FPV Drones Could Seriously Expand the Kill Zone

Ukrainian company Ptashka Drones released footage showing combat strikes carried out by fiber-optic–guided FPV drones with a claimed operational range of up to 50 kilometers, according to the video published on the company’s official Telegram channel on December 29.

According to the footage, the drones were used to hit a wide range of targets, including a tank, multiple military vehicles, a Chinese-made Desertcross 1000-3 all-terrain vehicle, a motorcycle, and enemy personnel.

Ukrainian defense outlet Militarnyi noted that Ptashka Drones first announced the start of combat trials for its fiber-optic FPV drones on November 19. Within weeks, the company reported its first successful battlefield strikes using the new control method.

“We have our first confirmed hits by Ptashkas on fiber-optic control with 50 km spools,” the company wrote on December 7.

Just two weeks later, the firm released visual confirmation of those claims, showing multiple successful engagements carried out at extended ranges.

Unlike conventional FPV drones that rely on radio links, fiber-optic FPV drones are physically connected to the operator via an ultra-thin optical cable. Commands, live video, and telemetry are transmitted as light signals rather than radio waves.

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War in Ukraine

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If the claimed 50-kilometer range proves scalable, even more fiber-controlled FPVs could dramatically expand strike options against armored vehicles, logistics hubs, and personnel well behind the front line—while remaining largely untouchable by conventional counter-EW measures.

Earlier, Ukraine developed a ground drone called “Bambetel”, which can be controlled simultaneously via both fiber-optic and radio channels.

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