Loitering FPV drones have reshaped modern battlefields, but radio-linked platforms face heavy electronic warfare (EW). That pressure is accelerating a turn toward fiber-optic-tethered FPV drones, which route command and video through a cable, bypassing jamming and spoofing while delivering crisp, low-latency imagery. Because their control link is immune to RF disruption, defeating such drones typically requires physical destruction rather than electronic countermeasures—a shift with major tactical implications in trenches, tunnels, urban canyons, and other complex terrain.

Türkiye began preparing for this pivot even before the Russia–Ukraine war. According to defense experts, the Turkish Armed Forces field both RF and fiber-optic options, complemented by the KERKES program, which enables navigation and target prosecution when communications are denied—leveraging onboard sensors, AI, and deep learning. Swarming concepts developed domestically are being ported across unmanned platforms to compress the find–fix–finish chain. The latest Special Forces exercise showcased several previously unseen systems, signaling that these capabilities are not prototypes on paper but assets already maturing in the field.

Fiber-optic FPV architecture confers key advantages: jam-proof command, high-resolution real-time video, low latency for precise terminal guidance, and minimal electromagnetic signature. Integrated into a broader unmanned ecosystem, such drones support reconnaissance, target designation, and kamikaze strikes from the same playbook—raising survivability for friendly units and stressing adversary air defenses. The approach also scales well with training and logistics packages, enabling rapid fielding and iterative upgrades.

Competition among local firms is accelerating innovation. STM and other Turkish companies are investing in FPV/kamikaze product lines, with expectations of multiple unveilings at IDEF 2025—from fiber-optic-enabled platforms to mission warheads suited for high-volume production. As output ramps, Türkiye is positioned to expand an EW-resilient, cost-effective FPV portfolio, underpinned by domestic supply chains and doctrine adapted to multi-domain warfare.