The unjammable drone: How fiber optics are rewiring warfare

The article discusses Ukraine’s innovative use of fiber-optic cable-tethered quadcopter drones, deployed from so-called “drone motherships,” which represent a significant tactical evolution in naval warfare, particularly in the Black Sea theater. These drones are designed to evade electronic jamming by relying on fiber-optic cables for control rather than vulnerable radio signals. This technology was notably used in a September 26, 2025 attack on Russian port cities Tuapse and Novorossiysk, targeting oil infrastructure and resulting in injuries. The drones are carried close to targets by mothership vessels, overcoming limitations of cable length, weight, and range, and are typically reserved for high-value missions or to disable enemy jamming systems. Fiber-optic drones signify a shift toward hybrid naval warfare, where traditional fleets face new threats from swarms of low-cost, resilient unmanned platforms. Both Ukraine and Russia are experimenting with these systems, with Russia reportedly testing drones that can sever their own cables to evade capture