In the high-stakes of modern warfare, where electronic jamming can cripple unmanned aerial operations, Russian engineers have unveiled a ground-based innovation designed to keep drones flying. Developed by the Scientific and Technical Center (STC) Kornei, the new unmanned ground platform dubbed the Dronobus relies on fiber-optic control links instead of vulnerable radio frequencies to ensure uninterrupted operations in heavily contested electronic warfare zones.
Revealed at the “Unmanned Systems: Technologies of the Future” forum, the Dronobus is built to transport and launch UAVs without traditional radio control. The key innovation lies in its tethered operation both the ground vehicle and the drones are controlled via a fiber-optic cable, shielding them from GPS spoofing and radio-frequency interference.
According to STC Kornei, the platform can travel up to 10 kilometers before releasing its drones, which themselves can operate at ranges of up to 15 kilometers from the launch point. In addition to drone deployment, the Dronobus can carry cargo loads of up to 150 kilograms, functioning in conditions from -20°C to +40°C year-round.
As the manufacturer’s statement, cited by TASS, puts it: “The robotic hardware and software complex ‘Dronobus’ is designed for the delivery and launch of unmanned aerial vehicles using fiber-optic communication or for the delivery of cargo weighing less than 150 kg.”
The use of fiber-optic tethering in UAV control isn’t entirely new, but its integration into a mobile, unmanned launch platform marks a strategic leap. By maintaining a physical data link to both the ground system and airborne drones, the Dronobus sidesteps many of the vulnerabilities that have plagued UAV operations in the Russia-Ukraine conflict particularly the widespread use of GPS disruption and signal jamming.