Fiber-optic drones offer Ukrainian forces a way to control aircraft in conditions where radio links can be detected or disrupted. But the cable that makes them possible is also in demand from data centers, including infrastructure supporting the global AI boom. Ukrainian manufacturers face higher costs and supply constraints as they compete for material that largely comes from China.
Why the cable matters on the battlefield
Unlike conventional radio-controlled FPV drones, fiber-optic models connect the aircraft to its human operator with a physical cable. That means they do not produce the same radio-frequency emissions, and conventional RF detectors and electronic warfare systems cannot detect or disrupt their control link in the same way.
The technology has trade-offs. These drones require particular piloting skills and have different flight characteristics from radio-controlled models. Their advantages are most relevant in electronic warfare environments, but training, operation and cost all limit their use.
Russia first deployed fiber-optic drones to repel Ukrainian forces’ cross-border incursion into the Kursk Oblast in 2024. Ukraine followed with its own models. Both sides now use them, although radio-controlled drones still make up the larger share overall.
Competing demand puts pressure on supply
Russia and Ukraine rely on Chinese suppliers for fiber-optic material, as well as other drone components. The cable is sold in large spools or as smaller, finished spools ready to fit on drones. Depending on the spool, drones can operate at ranges of dozens of miles, with some reaching up to 62 miles (100 kilometers) in extreme cases.
Fiber used by drones is consumed in battle, while data centers also use large amounts of optical fiber. That puts military manufacturers in competition with a wider market, where AI infrastructure is contributing to demand.
China’s official customs data shows a sharp difference in imports between Russia and Ukraine. In August 2025, Russia imported 328,000 miles of fiber-optic cable from China, while Ukraine received 72 miles from Chinese companies, according to The Washington Post.
Russia bought more than 37 million miles (60 million kilometers) of fiber-optic cable in 2025, according to The Insider and Vedomosti. That was more than 10 percent of all fiber produced worldwide that year; Russia had previously accounted for no more than 1 percent of global demand. Separately, market research firm TrendForce expected a worldwide shortfall of 111 million miles (180 million kilometers) in 2026.
Higher prices raise the stakes for manufacturers
Oleksiy, a BlueBird Tech R&D representative identified by first name for security reasons, told Ars that fiber-optic prices in 2025 and 2026 had increased roughly six to ten times. The most difficult period for prices and shortages was around March, and conditions had since stabilized to some extent.
The underlying supply challenge remains: Ukrainian manufacturers depend on China for material, logistics, availability and pricing. Bend-insensitive fiber, especially sought after for fiber-optic drones, has also become more costly as demand rises.
The scale of drone production gives those pressures practical consequences. Ukraine and Russia have been producing an estimated 50,000 fiber-optic drones per month in recent years, making the cable a substantial, recurring battlefield input. In that context, material shortages or price increases can affect manufacturers’ ability to supply the drones.
Making spools at home can improve control
One response is to bring spool production in-house. Rather than importing finished drone-sized spools, manufacturers can buy fiber in much larger spools and wind it onto smaller ones themselves. This does not remove reliance on Chinese fiber, but it gives companies more control over the finished product.
Quality is a central reason for the change. BlueBird Tech has seen defects in finished spools supplied from China. By handling the spooling locally, manufacturers can apply their own quality-control procedures and aim for more consistent results. The locally finished spool can also be somewhat cheaper than buying a finished product in China and transporting it to Ukraine.
A defect can mean losing the drone, the mission and the target, Oleksiy said. And fiber is only one part of the supply chain: manufacturers also need media converters, for which China is an important supplier. Local spool production offers more control over one step, while leaving other supply dependencies in place.