08:25 06-11-2025

New Russian Fiber-Optic Drone “Knyaz Veshchiy Oleg” Enters the Battlefield

Russia introduces the “Knyaz Veshchiy Oleg” drone—an advanced fiber-optic reconnaissance UAV designed for stealth, long-range operation, and seamless coordination with strike drones.

A new Russian reconnaissance drone, the fiber-optic aircraft-type UAV «Knyaz Veshchiy Oleg» (KVO), has appeared on the front line. The system was developed by the Ushkuyinik research and production center based in Veliky Novgorod, the company’s general director Alexey Chadayev told TASS.

According to Chadayev, the drone’s key advantage is its high survivability. Its external design closely resembles that of enemy UAVs, often leading the opposing side to mistake it for one of their own. This visual similarity allows the KVO to operate undetected over areas such as Sumy, Kharkov, and other frontline zones. While the developer admitted that the enemy may eventually learn to identify the model, for now this trait provides a major tactical edge.

Another strength of the «Knyaz Veshchiy Oleg» is its simplicity and maintainability. The UAV can be easily repaired in the field-damaged components are produced directly on 3D printers.

Chadayev noted that the system does not require complex launch mechanisms: «You can simply fix two rods in the ground and start it,» he said, emphasizing that the inexpensive model performs at the same operational level as far more costly reconnaissance drones.

One of the most promising directions in its use is the integration of reconnaissance and strike drones. Fiber-optic «kamikaze» drones require precise targeting support, which is now provided by reconnaissance UAVs operating at higher altitudes. Previously, this role was fulfilled by commercial quadcopters like the Mavic, whose communication range was limited to about 10–12 kilometers. The KVO, however, can maintain a stable connection and provide target designation at distances up to 40 kilometers, ensuring reconnaissance, fire correction, and post-strike assessment.

Developers have also linked the «Knyaz Veshchiy Oleg» with the strike drone «Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky» into a unified system. This setup allows the operator of the Vandal to view not only footage from their own drone but also from the reconnaissance UAV simultaneously. The shared visual feed enhances situational awareness and enables more accurate and coordinated strikes, giving Russian units a broader tactical picture of the battlefield.