On June 22, 2025, a Russian combat-focused Telegram channel shared a detailed manual for the “Knyaz Vandal Novgorodskiy” (commonly abbreviated as KVN) fiber-optic cable-guided FPV racing drone – a platform widely used by Russian forces on the frontlines since approximately March 2024. KVN drones were reportedly first used in the Kursk area, in western Russia, during the Ukrainian cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast, and one year later, they are considered one of the most common types of UAVs used by the Russian military.
The drone is employed in various mission profiles, including as an improvised loitering munition, in ambushes, and for mine-laying operations. Each role requires distinct tactics tailored to fiber-optic-guided drones – a category of systems that is seeing growing adoption on the battlefield. The KVN serves as a notable example of a weaponized fiber-optic cable-guided drone, offering tactical advantages when deployed in accordance with mission-specific doctrines and operational conditions.
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