Hezbollah adopts a new weapon: Fiber-optic drones, used widely in the war in Ukraine

TEL AVIV — Hezbollah has launched a new weapon against northern Israel in the latest round of fighting: small drones controlled with fiber-optic cables the width of dental floss that avoid electronic detection

Hezbollah's new fiber-optic drones are controlled with cables as thin as 0.1 millimeters, making them difficult to detect electronically. These drones have been used in the war in Ukraine, with reports suggesting they can carry payloads of up to 10 kilograms. The use of fiber-optic cables allows the drones to avoid radar detection, giving them a significant advantage in terms of stealth. Israeli officials have confirmed that several of these drones have been intercepted in recent weeks.

The increased use of fiber-optic drones by Hezbollah could lead to a significant increase in the cost of defense systems for countries like Israel, which could have a direct impact on the price of defense stocks. For example, shares of Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems could see a surge in demand, driving up prices. This could also lead to increased investment in defense research and development, potentially creating new job opportunities in the sector. The cost of these defense systems could ultimately be passed on to taxpayers.

The use of fiber-optic drones by Hezbollah is part of a larger trend of non-state actors adopting advanced technologies to gain an advantage on the battlefield. This trend has been driven in part by the widespread availability of commercial drone technology and the increasing sophistication of fiber-optic communications. Insiders note that the use of fiber-optic drones is a significant escalation of Hezbollah's capabilities, and could potentially be used by other non-state actors in the region. The development of these drones is also linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In the coming weeks, the Israeli military is expected to release a report on the effectiveness of its defense systems against the fiber-optic drones. The report is scheduled to be released on March 15, and is likely to provide further details on the capabilities of the drones and the challenges they pose to Israeli defenses. One surprising detail is that the fiber-optic drones used by Hezbollah are reportedly based on a design developed by a Chinese company, highlighting the global nature of the arms trade and the potential for advanced technologies to be transferred to non-state actors.