Ukrainian company Ptashka Drones has released combat footage showing its FPV drones striking Russian targets while guided over fiber optic cable, according to Militarnyi. The firm stated the drones operated at a range of up to 50 km.
Ptashka Drones shows FPV strikes from fiber optic drones
On 29 December 2025, Ptashka Drones published a video in its Telegram channel showing drone strikes and commented:
“We're surprising them with New Year’s gifts up to 50 km.”
The drones were guided via fiber optic cable, with the company claiming the range reached 50 km. The footage shows hits on a tank, various vehicles, a Chinese Desertcross 1000-3 ATV, a motorcycle, and Russian fighters.
Militarnyi notes that Ptashka Drones announced the beginning of combat tests for FPV drones using fiber optic control on 19 November 2025 and soon reported their first confirmed hits. On 7 December 2025, the company announced: “We have first hits by Ptashkas on fiber optic with 50 km reels.”
Drones transmit no radio signals and are immune to jamming
The FPV drone is connected to the operator’s controller with a thin fiber optic cable. It transmits control commands, video, and telemetry using light signals rather than radio. The drone uses a digital signal channel, which ensures stable communication at long distances, unlike analog systems.
This makes the drone immune to radio electronic warfare (EW) and undetectable by radio electronic reconnaissance. This setup provides high-quality connection and command stability across extended range, without exposure to RF threats.
