Army+ launches training course on fiber-optic-controlled drones
A new training course, “Fiber-Optic-Controlled Drones. Fundamentals of Use,” has been launched in the Army+ app. It covers the use of fiber-optic-controlled FPV drones in combat environments. This drone format offers several advantages — notably resilience against electronic warfare (EW) — but requires pilots to have specialized skills, precise route planning, and knowledge of operational nuances.
Course lecturer: Vitalii “Soloma,” engineer of the SIGNUM Unmanned Systems Battalion of the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh.
The course includes seven modules progressing from fundamental concepts to applied skills, namely:
- Advantages and limitations of fiber-optic-controlled drones, including resilience to electronic warfare (EW);
- Preparing fiber-optic cable and equipment: connector types, and the storage and transportation of spools;
- Pre-flight checklist and mission preparation stages;
- Typical faults and troubleshooting (including missing video, control issues, and fiber breakages);
- Tethered flight techniques;
- Planning and target-engagement tactics;
- Mission completion: post-flight inspections and reporting procedures.
Interim tests are conducted after each module, followed by a final exam upon course completion. Participants who successfully complete the course receive an electronic certificate confirming their acquired knowledge.
The Army+ now offers 17 training courses. More than 150,000 service members are undergoing training in the app, covering subjects ranging from UAV fundamentals and battlefield communications to psychological training and financial literacy.