Question 1

What is a fiber-optic drone?

Accepted Answer

A fiber-optic drone is a first-person-view (FPV) attack or reconnaissance drone that flies trailing a thin spooled optical-fiber cable instead of using a radio control link. The fiber carries both flight control and live HD video. Because the drone emits no radio signal, it cannot be jammed by electronic warfare and is invisible to RF detection. Fiber tethers are typically 5–20 km long, with next-generation models reaching 50–100 km.

Question 2

Why can't fiber-optic drones be jammed?

Accepted Answer

Jamming works by disrupting the radio link between a drone and its operator. A fiber-optic drone has no radio link — its control and video signals travel through a physical glass fiber. There is no radio frequency to jam, spoof, or detect, and GNSS spoofing is irrelevant because the operator flies visually through the fiber. This renders the entire legacy RF-based counter-drone (C-UAS) approach largely ineffective.

Question 3

Can RF-based counter-drone systems stop fiber-optic drones?

Accepted Answer

No. RF jammers, RF direction-finders, and GNSS-denial systems — the foundation of most deployed C-UAS — provide little to no protection against fiber-optic drones because there is no emission to detect or signal to disrupt. Defenders must shift the kill chain off radio frequency entirely toward optical, thermal, radar, and kinetic methods.

Question 4

How do you detect a fiber-optic drone?

Accepted Answer

Since RF detection fails, fiber-optic drones are detected with non-RF, passive sensors: electro-optical and thermal (EO/IR) cameras paired with AI vision, radar tuned for small low-signature targets, and acoustic sensors. The most effective approach fuses multiple sensors — radar cues a track, while EO/IR confirms and stays locked on the target. The trailing fiber and the drone's heat signature also create exploitable detection opportunities.

Question 5

How can fiber-optic drones be intercepted or defeated?

Accepted Answer

Effective defeat methods are kinetic and physical rather than electronic: interceptor drones that ram incoming FPVs, small-arms and shotgun fire at close range, net-guns and overhead netting, barbed-wire or cable-cutting rigs that snag the trailing fiber, and emerging directed-energy (laser) and electromagnetic-capture systems. Their spool weight makes fiber drones slower and less maneuverable, which trained defenders can exploit.

Question 6

What is the fiber-optic drone threat to Israel?

Accepted Answer

Jam-proof fiber-optic FPV drones proven in the Russia–Ukraine war have proliferated to non-state actors, including Hezbollah, which has fielded them against northern Israel. Because they defeat Israel's RF-based counter-drone layers, the Israeli defense establishment has been actively sourcing optical-detection and kinetic countermeasures. Cherev translates these battlefield and post-October-7th lessons into counter-FPV solutions and training.

Question 7

Can EMP or high-power microwave stop a fiber-optic drone?

Accepted Answer

Yes — and it is one of the few electronic methods that works. Jamming targets the radio link, which a fiber-optic drone does not have. EMP and high-power microwave (HPM) weapons instead attack the drone's onboard flight electronics, so the airframe is disabled even while the operator retains control through the cable. In December 2025, an HPM system (Epirus Leonidas) defeated a fiber-optic-controlled drone for the first time in a documented test. HPM is line-of-sight and power-limited, so it functions as one layer alongside optical/AI detection, kinetic interceptors, and trained crews. Israel fields directed-energy systems such as Rafael's Iron Beam laser and high-power microwave as part of this layered approach.

Question 8

Does Cherev provide counter-FPV drone training?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Counter-FPV is a detect-decide-engage challenge measured in seconds, which is fundamentally a human-performance problem. Cherev delivers realistic, injury-free simulation training — built on its Keshet Yehonatan platform — covering EO/IR cue recognition, engagement decision drills, interceptor and weapon employment, and degraded or night conditions, with real-time analytics and after-action review.

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יירוט קינטי

הכשרת מפעילים נגד FPV

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שרשרת הסיכול נגד FPV

גילוי

החלטה

נטרול

EMP ומיקרוגל עוצמתי: כשהשיבוש נכשל, שורפים את האלקטרוניקה

מוכח בשדה הקרב, תוצרת ישראל

איום כטב"מ הסיב האופטי — בכותרות

הגנה מפני כטב"מ סיב אופטי: שאלות מפתח

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