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Наталя ХандусенкоWeapon
7 October 2025, 10:34
2025-10-07
Ukrainian naval drones have begun launching EW-resistant fiber-optic drones. This unique new development could transform warfare at sea
Russian video footage of the attacks on the ports of Tuapse and Novorossiysk on September 24th likely shows a new Ukrainian naval kamikaze drone carrying several fiber-optic FPV drones in special compartments. These drones are no ordinary drones. Fiber-optic communication allows them to fly without the use of radio signals, making them invulnerable to electronic warfare (EW) — the main enemy of drones in modern warfare.
Russian video footage of the attacks on the ports of Tuapse and Novorossiysk on September 24th likely shows a new Ukrainian naval kamikaze drone carrying several fiber-optic FPV drones in special compartments. These drones are no ordinary drones. Fiber-optic communication allows them to fly without the use of radio signals, making them invulnerable to electronic warfare (EW) — the main enemy of drones in modern warfare.
This innovation marks the first recorded use of fiber-optic drones launched from the sea. Until now, Ukraine has deployed these indestructible drones mainly on land to attack Russian electronic warfare and fortified positions. Mounting them on sea platforms extends their range far beyond the coastline and turns any boat into a mobile drone carrier, writes Forbes.
Ukraine hinted at this possibility as early as December 2024. The Ukrainian Navy released a video showing naval drone carriers launching FPV strike drones from internal compartments built into Magura-class unmanned naval vehicles.
The modified hulls apparently used hatches that open into the sea, allowing FPV drones to take off while remaining protected from salt water and weather conditions.
Those early experiments foresaw what Russian footage now demonstrates: naval drones doubling their functions, becoming “motherships” for precision FPV strikes.
The footage, shared by Russian military bloggers, comes after a wave of Ukrainian strikes that disabled oil terminals in Novorossiysk and Tuapse, temporarily halting port operations. If confirmed, the use of maritime fiber-optic drones would be another step in the development of Ukraine's drone fleet, as low-cost, disposable assets replace conventional warships.
A few days later, Turkish fishermen found a Magura drone loaded with explosives on the shore, 1,448 km from Ukraine. Local authorities immediately closed the port, confirming the presence of explosives. The find demonstrates the incredible range of Ukrainian maritime drones and how their missions and design have changed dramatically since the first Maguras appeared in 2022.
The detection of a Magura kamikaze drone off the coast of Turkey and a fiber-optic carrier near Krasnodar shows that the Ukrainian drone fleet has covered almost the entire Black Sea.
