Russia is reportedly stepping up production of its Prince Vandal Novgorodsky (KVN) fiber-optic cable-controlled FPV (First Person View) kamikaze drones. Multiple drone assembly plants are being set up across the European part of the country.
Each facility will assemble a different variant of the drone honed for a specific combat mission, sourcing components relevant only to the mission from manufacturers in the region.
The Vandal drone was developed in Novgorod by the Ushkuynik center. It represents a significant technological advancement in drone warfare.
Unlike traditional drones that rely on radio frequency communication, the Vandal utilizes a fiber-optic control cable.
This wired connection renders its communication link virtually immune to electronic jamming and interference. The digital flight control electronics of the drone are also jam-resistant.
Consequently, the Vandal can reliably operate in environments saturated with electronic countermeasures.
In a recent battlefield video, the vandal can be seen flying past in close proximity to a Ukrainian Armed Forces pickup truck with an installed electronic warfare system before striking a German-supplied Leopard main battle tank ahead.
Other significant advantages accruing from the use of a fiber-optic cable include high bandwidth, low latency communication, stealthy operation, and the ability to fly at extremely low altitudes.
The fiber-optic cable provides a high-bandwidth link between the operator and the drone, facilitating real-time, uncompressed visual feedback. This enhances the operator’s situational awareness and precision in targeting.
Since the Vandal communicates using its fiber-optic cable, it emits no radio frequency energy. Also, its electrical motors are barely audible from even a relatively close distance. The absence of radio frequency emissions, combined with the quiet operation of its electric motors, reduces the drone’s detectability by enemy surveillance and defense systems.
The drone’s stealth characteristics facilitate penetrating adversary defenses and reaching high-value targets without early detection.
🇺🇦🇷🇺 Kursk Front
Operators of the 810th Brigade successfully worked on the M2 "Bradley" IFV of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, delivering a critical blow with the FPV drone "Prince Vandal" on fiber optics. pic.twitter.com/ZltsoeJdTi
— King Chelsea Ug 🇺🇬🇷🇺 (@ug_chelsea) December 20, 2024
Drones featuring radio frequency control need to climb higher as they move away from their control station in order to maintain line of sight. The Vandal doesn’t have to do so.
In recent battlefield videos, the vandal is often seen loitering 2 – 10 m above the terrain, observing adversary activity. Indeed, Russian forces are known to be using the drone as a covert observation post in adversary territory.
On a recce mission, the drone can be parked on a vantage point on the terrain to observe adversary activity. If detected, or when the battery is running out, the drone can simply fly away.
Operational Capability
The drone features a thermal imager and a camera, which together facilitate day, night, and poor visibility operations. It is capable of carrying a 3.5 kg payload to a range of 6-10 km.
The Vandal is designed to destroy enemy unarmored military equipment and armored personnel carriers, command posts, air defense and missile defense facilities, electronic reconnaissance and electronic warfare, and rear support facilities.
Russia first introduced the drone in Kursk on August 13, 2024, shortly after the start of the Ukrainian offensive in the region.
Before the advent of the Vandal, control through a fiber-optic cable was not attempted because it was believed that the cable would snare with terrain, foliage or structures. However, the fears proved to be exaggerated. A fiber-optic cable, though fragile, does not foul or snap easily. It breaks easily only if it’s bent.
According to the general director of Ushkuynik, Alexey Chadayev, according to statistics, the number of fiber optic breaks does not exceed 1-2 cases per 10 launches.
Limitations Of Fibre-Optic-Control Drones
Manufacturing fiber-optic control drones is challenging; their payload is limited, and their range is limited to very short distances.
As stated earlier, fiber optic cables are inherently fragile compared to electrical wires. They must be managed to withstand the physical stresses of flight, including vibration, bending, and potential impacts.
The length of the fiber optic cable directly affects the range of the drone. Adding fiber optic cable length adds weight. Keeping the system lightweight is challenging.
The Vandal carries a fiber-optic cable spool that unrolls as the drone moves away from the operator. The spool adds significant weight, which adversely affects the drone’s payload-carrying capability and range. Any attempt to increase the range of the drone by increasing the length of the cable, increases the weight of the drone. The added weight and spool size adversely affect flight dynamics and increase battery drainage.
There are other complications from the use of a longer cable. Over distance, light signals in fiber optics can weaken, which could reduce the effectiveness of control signals or data transmission.
Despite their versatility and effectiveness, the use of fibre-optic-controlled FPV drones will likely remain limited to areas in close proximity to the line of contract.
Ukrainian Fibre-Optic-Control Drones
Ukraine has begun fielding fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones, but Russia is far ahead of Ukraine in terms of the operational maturity of the Vandal from nearly 6 months of operations and the number of drones available to their forces.
Conclusion
The Vandal has proven to be very effective as a kamikaze drone as well as a reconnaissance drone. The use of the drone by Russian forces has so far been limited and mostly confined to the Kursk region. The number of drones available and the number of personnel trained to operate the drones have likely been the limiting factors.
The use of fiber optics cable instead of radio frequency transmissions makes the drone significantly more expensive.
Increased production of the Vandal will not only make its use by Russian forces more widespread, but it will also reduce costs.
- Vijainder K Thakur is a retired IAF Jaguar pilot, author, software architect, entrepreneur, and military analyst.Â
- VIEWS PERSONAL OF THE AUTHOR
- Follow the author @vkthakur
