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Ok, I'll bite, what is a 'fibre-optic' drone? (hexbear.net)
submitted 5 months ago by to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
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Is it literally just a drone with a wired connection to the controller? How does that even work? Doesn't that make for a very limited range?

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[–] 25 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (4 children)

Unclear on the specific specs of the drones Hezbollah uses, but the distance seems to be in the ballpark of 3-20 miles.

The Electronic Intifada reported that the drones are built from components stripped from other common commodities^[https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=hY25JlG7EY8&t=938], meaning the drone supply chain cannot be targeted by sanctions while also allowing the drones to be customized to the mission. They also report that the fibre optics enable zero-latency communication between the drones and their operators, and in addition the drones can operate low to the ground^[so low to be in the grass https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=504BsSnX5Uc&t=1314] and in hilly/city terrain that might otherwise naturally block radio frequencies^[https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/504BsSnX5Uc?t=2042]

EDIT: Deeper dive into the supply chain and construction of the drones^[https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=w42XSiXMCEE&t=3345]

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  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago

    I wonder how long it will be before Israel orders the United States to try to classify fibre optic cable as a controlled technology requiring permits to manufacture and distribute. It wouldn't work of course, but I wonder if they'll try anyway.

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  • [–] 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

    "Using common parts that are in all kinds of other things"

    The photo shows an off the shelf drone frame with off the shelf motors, propellers and antennas.

    I'd love to think they are building their own flight controllers from cellphone parts and winding their own brushless motors, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

    "they are using common parts used in common appliances"

    Name even one part aside from maybe the batteries.

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  • [–] 2 points 5 months ago

    I can only go on what is reported. I also don't think it's something so guerrilla as winding motors, but a mixture of smuggling and repurposing. To your point there are several^[https://www.lbcgroup.tv/news/news-bulletin-reports/784852/hezbollahs-drone-supply-key-components-sourced-from-europe/en] reports^[https://www.newsrael.com/posts/ag6hnmf48gf] of busting European drone smuggling networks destined for Lebanon.

    At the same time Hezbollah makes their own claims such as this propaganda video they released of their drone manufacturing facilities, and an article with some more context.

    The release appears intended to emphasize Hezbollah’s claim of maintaining localized production and logistical independence despite regional conflict and repeated Israeli assertions that the group’s military capabilities have been significantly degraded.

    Hezbollah has long stated that it developed an internal weapons production network focused on drones, rockets, and precision-guided systems. In previous speeches, the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah described the movement as possessing domestically rooted infrastructure capable of sustaining operations under blockade or wartime conditions.

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