He also spoke about unexpected solutions developed by the center for the use of fiber-optic drones, including operating them in marine and underwater environments.
In an interview with the Russian news agency TASS , Chadayev noted that the Knyaz-Vandal Novgorodsky (KVN) drone has become the Russian Armed Forces' primary fiber-optic drone and the most widely used in its class. According to him, these drones have contributed to the destruction of enemy military equipment equivalent to the combined equipment of two European armies.
He explained that the key advantage of the KVN drone is that its operator can work from underground, without any external indicators of the launch site, and that the drone is undetectable by radio reconnaissance. He added that the enemy only becomes aware of the attack moments before it occurs, which significantly reduces casualties among the operators, emphasizing that preserving their lives is a top priority for the designers and manufacturers.
Chadayev noted that the development of these aircraft over the past year and a half has been radical, with only the general shape remaining from the initial models. All modifications were made in response to feedback from combatants in the field. Since last spring, new missions have been added to the fiber-optic aircraft, including an ambush tactic, where the aircraft lands at a predetermined location and waits for the target.
The system also underwent extensive technological upgrades, including increased flight range, improved fiber optic reels, and the introduction of a night-vision drone. Chadayev explained that one of the most significant changes was the adoption of more robust reels, now produced using industrial casting instead of 3D printing, in addition to the development of a unified electronic board that significantly reduced production costs.
He also noted that the Ukrainian side tried to imitate this type of aircraft, and even held meetings dedicated to that, but the difference between the design and the final product remained significant, as the Russian model remains superior in terms of performance and reliability.
Chadayev concluded by saying that designers are continuing to develop new models of fiber-optic drones capable of targeting distant enemy positions, including depots, command centers, and supply lines. He also noted that the center recently equipped the operations area with a fiber-optic unmanned boat and devised unconventional solutions for using these drones underwater.
