Fibre-optic-controlled weapon resistant to electronic jamming inaugurated by Nigerian start-up

Babasky Technologies, a Nigerian defense technology company, has successfully tested a domestically manufactured fiber-optic guided loitering munition, a feat that the company claims would boost the country's indigenous military capabilities in electronic warfare.

• Babasky Technologies in Nigeria has successfully tested a domestically developed fiber-optic guided loitering munition named UNIKAM-FO1.
• The UNIKAM-FO1 drone uses a fiber-optic and Kevlar tether for operator control and live video, making it resistant to electronic jamming and signal spoofing.
• Standard FPV drones are vulnerable to electronic interference, but UNIKAM-FO1 is designed to operate in environments with heavy electronic countermeasures.
• Technical specs show the drone can carry a 2.5 kg warhead, reach speeds over 120 km/h, operate up to 15 km, and fly for up to 15 minutes.

The UNIKAM-FO1 drone was exhibited at the Nigerian Defense Testing Range in Jaji, Kaduna.

Unlike traditional unmanned aerial systems that rely on radio communications, the new system employs a fiber-optic and Kevlar micro-tether to ensure continuous operator control and live video transmission, making it highly resistant to electronic jamming and signal spoofing.

“This is a direct response to one of the biggest challenges in drone warfare today, electronic jamming,” the company said in a press statement.

“By eliminating dependence on vulnerable wireless communication, the UNIKAM-FO1 gives operators a decisive advantage in highly contested environments,” it added.

According to Babasky Technologies, as seen on the Vanguard, the technology was created to solve one of contemporary warfare's most significant challenges: the increasing efficacy of electronic countermeasures capable of disrupting or hijacking drone communications.

The company stated that standard First-Person View (FPV) drones are susceptible to signal interference, GPS denial, and communication outages.

The UNIKAM-FO1 is designed to operate even in highly disputed electronic settings by replacing wireless communications with a hardwired fiber-optic connection.

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Technical specifications indicate that the loitering munition may carry a 2.5-kilogram indigenous high-energy composite warhead, attain speeds of more than 120 km/h, and function across distances ranging from 8 to 15 kilometers, depending on the fiber-optic spool utilized. It has a flying duration of up to 15 minutes and is flown via FPV.

During testing, the drone reportedly performed a successful high-speed attack with a 5-kilometer fiber-optic spool while retaining continuous telemetry throughout the trip.

“The terminal guidance precision was exceptional, and the data-link remained intact throughout the entire engagement,” Babasky stated.

In a different test, it successfully negotiated rough terrain before landing, confirming the resilience of its navigation system.

The successful trial of the UNIKAM-FO1 is another milestone in Nigeria's attempts to create indigenous defense solutions and lessen dependency on foreign military technology.