Russians test fibre-optic equivalent of Molniya drone with range of up to 50 km, expert says – video

Russian forces are testing a new fixed-wing attack drone using fibre-optic communication.

Source: Serhii "Flash" Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine's defence minister and a radio technology specialist

Details: Beskrestnov released footage of the drone's flight, saying it is a fibre-optic equivalent of the Molniya UAV, with a range of up to 50 kilometres. Russia plans to begin mass-producing the drone.

Quote: "Just as with AI-guided drones, the main idea is to make flights of attack drones carrying warheads of up to ten kilograms invisible to our electronic reconnaissance and unaffected by our electronic warfare."

More details: The fibre-optic drone will have high-quality imaging, allowing the fixed-wing craft to avoid obstacles at low altitude. In addition, radar stations struggle to detect assets at low altitudes, Beskrestnov explained.

Background:

• Beskrestnov reported earlier on upgrades Ukrainian troops have observed on Molniya attack drones. In one case, a Russian Molniya drone without a control antenna struck a Ukrainian facility. In Beskrestnov's assessment, this may indicate the development of autonomous UAV capabilities. In addition, Russian forces have begun mass deployment of an autonomous version of the Molniya strike drone equipped with artificial intelligence in Zaporizhzhia.
• It was also reported earlier that a new Russian serial-production attack drone has been observed appearing in the south of Ukraine.

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