Hezbollah Fiber Optic Drone: Hezbollah has started using fiber-optic drones against Israel, which are considered almost impossible to jam. These ‘silent drones’ without wireless signals are becoming a new and dangerous challenge of modern warfare.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is no longer limited to just rockets and missiles. The face of war is changing rapidly and technology has made it more dangerous than ever. In recent days, Hezbollah has started using a weapon which has increased the concern of Israeli security agencies. This weapon is a fiber-optic drone, a drone that can neither be easily tracked nor jammed by conventional means.
In a video from southern Lebanon, such a drone is seen flying very low over buildings and reaching straight for an Israeli tank. According to military experts, this technology can bring a big change in modern warfare as it almost neutralizes conventional anti-drone systems.
How does a fiber-optic drone work?
Usually drones are controlled through radio or wireless signals. The army stops drones by tracking or jamming these signals. But fiber-optic drones are based on entirely different technology. These drones have a very thin fiber-optic cable, which is directly connected to the operator. This cable works to control the drone and send live video from the camera. This cable is so thin that it becomes difficult to see with the naked eye and its length can be up to about 15 kilometers. That means the operator can operate the drone accurately while sitting at a far away and safe place. Since wireless signals are not used in this, electronic jamming systems also fail to stop it.
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Concern increased after the death of Israeli soldier
According to the Israeli army, 19-year-old soldier Idan Fuchs was killed in one such attack, while several other soldiers were injured. According to reports, the attack was so accurate that the drone directly reached the military vehicle. The situation became more serious when the helicopter that arrived to evacuate the injured also faced additional drone attacks. This indicates that Hezbollah is now adopting a strategy of targeting not only attacks but also rescue operations.
New technology gained from Ukraine war
The use of fiber-optic drones was first seen on a large scale in the Russia-Ukraine war. Russia used these drones very effectively in the battlefield. Later these were further developed so that the operator could attack even after being several kilometers away from the frontline. Security analysts believe that Hezbollah has adopted this model. It is believed that the organization buys ordinary commercial drones from China or Iran and turns them into weapons by adding grenades or other explosives to them. Due to low cost and high accuracy, these drones are proving to be more useful than traditional missiles.
Why has it become difficult to stop these drones?
Till now, armies of many countries including Israel used electronic warfare systems to stop drones. The main function of these systems is to jam the radio signals of drones. But fiber-optic drones have no radio signal at all. This is the reason why the existing anti-drone technology seems to be weak in front of them. According to experts, to stop them, only traditional measures like nets, physical barriers or direct shootdown can be effective at present.
Hezbollah’s changed strategy
Analysts say Hezbollah’s rocket and missile stockpile has declined due to continued conflict. In such a situation, the organization is now paying more attention to low-cost but highly accurate drone attacks. This strategy is not only economically cheap but has the potential to cause huge losses even on a small scale. The special thing is that these drones can be used for a long time despite limited resources.
The new face of modern warfare
Fiber-optic drones show that future wars will be fought not just with heavy weapons, but also with smart and affordable technologies. The technology which was once considered for limited use, is now becoming a challenge for big military countries. Amidst the increasing tension between Israel and Hezbollah, this new technology can completely change the security strategies of the Middle East in the coming times.
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