The Russian Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky fiber-optic drone has been named the most effective strike craft used by Russian forces in Ukraine, according to state news agency TASS.
Alexey Chadaev, the general director of the Ushkuynik Research and Production Center, said digital statistical data confirms that the drone leads all mass-produced and relatively inexpensive frontline strike units in overall performance.
Chadaev explained that the statistical evaluation measures the ratio between the financial costs of manufacturing each drone and the value of the damage inflicted on the battlefield.
He said the efficiency ratio reached 1 to 40, meaning that for every single ruble spent on producing a drone, it generated 40 rubles worth of damage to opposing equipment.
According to the Ushkuynik chief executive, the drone, commonly abbreviated as the KVN, has destroyed enemy armored vehicles valued at tens of billions of dollars.
Fiber-optic technology and combat debut
The capabilities of the Knyaz Vandal Novgorodsky were first tested in combat operations in August 2024, during the invasion of Russia's western Kursk region by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Kursk province, situated along the Ukrainian border, saw heavy military engagements during the cross-border offensive.
Unlike traditional unmanned aerial vehicles that rely on wireless radio communication links, the KVN operates using a spool of thin fiber-optic cable that unwinds behind the craft as it flies toward its target.
It was noted that electronic warfare systems have no impact on the drone. Standard electronic countermeasures attempt to disable aircraft by jamming radio control frequencies or blocking satellite navigation signals, but physical optical wires remain entirely immune to radio-frequency suppression.
Role in frontline tactics
Military blogger Anatoly Radov previously named the deployment of these weapons as a key condition for Russian forces to advance at the front.
Radov said Russian military forces frequently accumulate stockpiles of Knyaz Vandal, Mavic, and other first-person view drones before launching attacks. Troops then execute rapid advances under the direct cover of the massed drone strikes.
First-person view drones are maneuverable strike craft guided by operators wearing video headsets, enabling precise targeting against heavy armor and defensive positions. The Ushkuynik Research and Production Center continues to develop specialized unmanned hardware as Russian forces utilize the wire-guided Knyaz Vandal across active combat sectors.
