Improving Drone Systems Against Signal Jamming

Navigation Without GNSS: The New Operational Standard in Drone Warfare The war in Ukraine has proven that the era of UAVs relying solely on GNSS is over. The battlespace is saturated with electronic warfare systems that disrupt satellite signals across multiple frequencies. In this environment, even advanced CRPA antennas with eight elements have become ineffective. Jamming now comes from multiple directions with overwhelming power, rendering traditional spatial filtering obsolete. A recent case on the Sumy axis illustrates the shift. After a Superkam (Skat) UAV was shot down, investigators found a high-precision altimeter and an onboard microcomputer. This indicates the use of terrain-referenced navigation—specifically, digital elevation models (DEMs) that allow a UAV to determine its position by comparing terrain profiles rather than relying on external signals. Once reserved for cruise missiles (like TERCOM), this technology has now been adapted for tactical drones. This is no longer experimental. UAVs like the V2U have been operating with terrain-matching capabilities for over a year. In parallel, visual navigation using EO or IR cameras with SLAM algorithms is gaining traction. These systems allow drones to localize themselves by comparing live camera feeds to reference imagery, even in complete GNSS denial. Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) provide short-term positional awareness using internal sensors. Though they suffer from drift, they are highly valuable when fused with other data sources—terrain, visual, or barometric. Advanced UAVs now rely on multi-sensor fusion: combining INS, altimeters, EO/IR imagery, and map data to create resilient, redundant navigation systems. A growing trend is local radio-based navigation using pseudo-satellites, RF beacons, or LTE/5G triangulation. In combat zones, however, reliance on national infrastructure is impractical. Instead, tactical forces must create their own positioning grid, using UAVs or ground-based transmitters. This evolution demands a new mindset. Enhancing GNSS resilience is no longer enough. The very architecture of navigation must be rethought. Resilience must come from independence, not reinforcement. Key implications: All medium- and long-range UAVs must support GNSS-free navigation. Terrain and visual databases are now strategic assets. INS and onboard computing are essential, not optional. Command systems must assume operations in GNSS-denied environments as the norm, not the exception. In modern warfare, the winner won’t be the one with the strongest signal—but the one who no longer needs it. Autonomous navigation in signal-denied environments will define next-generation UAV effectiveness. If you’re designing a drone today, the first question should be: How will it navigate when nothing works? Because that is the new baseline.

Flying Without GPS: How UAVs Are Evolving in Denied Environments As GPS becomes increasingly vulnerable to jamming and spoofing, the future of UAV operations depends on how well these systems can navigate without it—or how creatively we can maintain access to reliable positioning. From military missions in contested zones to commercial drones in urban airspace, GPS-denied environments are now a defining challenge. The next generation of UAVs must be resilient, autonomous, and capable of navigating blind—or connected. Here’s where I see innovation accelerating: 1. Visual Odometry & SLAM Computer vision techniques like SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) allow drones to map and localize in real time using onboard cameras and sensors. 2. Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) Accelerometers and gyros track motion—critical for short-term navigation, especially when paired with visual systems to correct drift. 3. Terrain Referenced Navigation (TRN) By comparing radar or LiDAR profiles to known maps, UAVs can position themselves even without satellite signals. 4. Magnetic & RF Mapping Some systems leverage Earth’s magnetic anomalies or ambient RF signals (Wi-Fi, cellular, broadcast) for passive, resilient positioning. 5. Fiber Optic Cable Integration Ground-based UAVs or command relay systems can stay connected to GPS-time and positioning data through secure fiber optic links. In some scenarios—such as perimeter surveillance or fixed-wing UAV launch zones—tethered UAVs or systems with partial autonomy can use high-speed fiber to maintain real-time PNT data, bypassing jammable satellite links altogether. 6. Multi-Modal Autonomy The most robust systems blend all of the above: vision, RF, terrain, inertial, and even fiber-connected nodes—cross-checking data with onboard AI to adapt in real time. Why It Matters: In defence, drones must survive in electronic warfare environments. In commercial use, they must operate safely in complex, signal-degraded spaces. From air to ground, the push for resilient, redundant navigation is accelerating—and fiber-based links are now part of the solution. The ability to operate in or around GPS-denied zones isn’t a luxury—it’s fast becoming a baseline requirement for UAV autonomy and survivability. Question.... Which navigation method do you see scaling fastest—vision-based, RF, terrain, tethered fiber, or something else? #UAV #DefenseTech #GPSDenied #FiberOptic #DualUse #Navigation #Drones #Aerospace #PNT #AI

There is an urgent need to broaden the conversation beyond tethered systems and into the expanding domain of electronic attack (EA), electronic warfare (EW), and electromagnetic interference (EMI) across all drone platforms. Alongside their growth, counter-drone C-UAS, capabilities have evolved. Among the most proven yet under-discussed, electromagnetic interference and active jamming. Even as drones grow more autonomous, they remain heavily reliant on: • GNSS signals (GPS, GLONASS, etc.) • RF links (control, telemetry, video feed) • Sensor fusion (radar, LiDAR, optical) • Digital onboard processing vulnerable to EMI “leakage” • Sensitive power and propulsion systems. Fiber-optic tethered drones were once believed to be more resistant, due to their “closed-loop” data channels. However, operational tests and classified field reports (including NATO’s C-UAS reports and DARPA red-team trials) show that even tethered drones can be rendered nonfunctional via indirect EMI, directed energy, or ground-based disruptions. Solutions: 1. Hardening Through EMI Shielding and Isolation • Faraday shielding of sensitive electronics and gimbaled sensors is now standard in military designs. • Power supply filtering and fiber-optic transceivers must be shielded against high-energy RF pulses and EMP-like spikes. 2. Adaptive Frequency-Hopping and Spread Spectrum • High-end C-UAS jammers rely on brute-force RF saturation. • In response, drones with spread spectrum communications (DSSS, FHSS) can maintain signal integrity, especially when encrypted and using agile protocols. • Comms switching is being piloted by NATO labs, adjusting frequency bands on the fly based on threat detection. 3. Tether Redundancy and Dual-Link Design • Redundant fiber links, shielded copper backup lines, or even air-gapped reversion systems are now being introduced in ISR and defense-grade tethered drones. • In some designs, a loss of tether triggers a satcom or LTE fallback system. 4. Pre-Mission EMI Mapping and Electromagnetic Preparation EMI mapping is becoming essential for drone operations. DoD and European forces have begun integrating SIGINT/EW, offering real-time EMI mitigation planning. 5. Use of Quantum-Resilient and Optical Communications While still experimental, quantum key distribution (QKD) and free-space optical communications (FSOC) are being considered to augment or replace RF links in sensitive missions. Looking ahead, at ePropelled we are interested in making drones survivable in tough environments. This calls for interdisciplinary research in drone design survivability of propulsion, power system, autonomy. The industry must pull together systems engineers, EW experts, software security professionals, and operations analysts. The next question must be: How do we build drones that can think, adapt, and survive—not just fly? #ePropelled #dronesystems #Survibilty #communicationsytems #EA #EMI #NATO #DoD #MoD #CUAS

Ukraine’s Fiber-Optic Drones Are Quietly Redefining the Battlefield ⸻ Jamming-Proof and Lethal at Long Range, These Drones Are Ukraine’s Stealth Edge Less than 18 months after Russian forces introduced fiber-controlled drones, Ukraine has not only caught up—but surpassed the tech with upgraded, deadlier designs. Developed by Ukrainian firm 3DTech, these drones use fiber optic cables instead of radio waves for communication, rendering them immune to jamming and capable of penetrating deep into contested areas. As production ramps up, they are becoming a game-changing asset in Ukraine’s evolving drone warfare strategy. ⸻ What Makes Fiber Drones So Effective • Jamming-Proof Precision • Unlike radio-controlled drones, fiber drones are controlled through ultra-thin, high-bandwidth optical cables, making them immune to Russian electronic warfare systems. • This allows precise targeting in environments saturated with GPS and signal jamming. • Superior Ukrainian Engineering • 3DTech began by analyzing captured Russian fiber drone prototypes in mid-2024. • They then replaced heavy frames with lightweight carbon designs, improving range, agility, and payload capacity. • The result: quieter, more aerodynamic, and longer-lasting drones. • Scalable, Not Just Specialized • CEO Oleksiy Zhulinskiy says the biggest hurdle now is scaling up production to meet battlefield demand. • Despite Russian numerical advantages, Ukraine’s emphasis is on precision engineering and field-tested upgrades. • Sabotage and Supply Chain Disruption • Zhulinskiy also warned of Chinese-origin sabotage, suggesting efforts to disrupt Ukrainian access to critical drone components. • Still, 3DTech is moving toward greater domestic sourcing and hardened logistics. ⸻ Why It Matters: Drone Warfare Enters a New Phase The rise of fiber-optic FPVs (First-Person View drones) represents a leap beyond traditional drone warfare. Where once RF jamming grounded squadrons of UAVs, these new systems operate in silence and near invisibility—delivering strikes in areas once considered too dangerous or technologically shielded. Ukraine’s success in not only adapting but improving on Russian fiber drone designs underscores its growing reputation for agile, asymmetric innovation in wartime. As production scales, these drones are expected to play a pivotal role in defending contested zones and executing deep-strike missions. In modern conflict, control of the skies is no longer about jets—it’s about who can quietly sneak a wire across the battlefield, and what’s waiting on the other end. https://lnkd.in/gEmHdXZy

The "Unjammable" Drone: Why the Post-EW Era Might Be Wired 🧶🚀 Electronic Warfare (EW) on the modern battlefield has become incredibly effective-perhaps too effective. The saturation of the RF spectrum has forced a fascinating tactical "retro-evolution." Enter the Vandal Drone. Facing intense jamming that cripples standard radio links, engineers have gone "Back to the Future." Instead of relying on wireless signals, this FPV drone physically unspools 10-20km of fiber-optic cable during its flight. The tactical advantages of this wired approach are profound: 🛡️ True Immunity: Light cannot be jammed by RF systems like Zhitel or Borisoglebsk-2. The link is unbreakable by current EW standards. 👻 Zero Emissions: With no radio output, the drone and its operator are invisible to electronic intelligence (ELINT), making triangulation impossible. 👁️ Terminal Accuracy: The operator maintains a perfect, uncompressed HD video feed right up to the moment of kinetic impact. We are witnessing a classic dialectic of military innovation: New tech (Radio) leads to a counter-measure (Jamming), forcing a reimagining of old tech (Wire). The "Post-EW" era is here, and ironically, the most advanced solution might just be a 20km spool of cable. #Innovation #FiberOptics #DroneTech #FutureWar #ElectronicWarfare #DefenseTech C as A strategy Ltd

Jamming and anti-jamming for drones: anti-UAV systems - and how to outsmart them. 👨🏻💻📡 ˒﹚)🛩️💥 A group of academic security researchers and RF experts from China presented last year their comprehensive survey of anti-jamming techniques for UAV (drone) communications operating in hostile environments. The authors categorize six major anti-jamming strategies: 🥫 confrontation, 🥫 avoidance, 🥫 elimination, 🥫 concealment, 🥫 deception, 🥫 bypass, and also share many interesting examples of jamming and anti-jamming engineering decisions and tricks. As an example, there are UAVs that avoid jammers by intentionally lying to them: UAVs can transmit decoy signals or behave as if they are losing control to mislead smart jammers, tricking them into wasting power on fake channels while real communications continue elsewhere. Insightful and rare type of survey with a lot of cool details. Enjoy, and please share with your colleagues and friends. Thanks! More details: Agent-Based Anti-Jamming Techniques for UAV Communications in Adversarial Environments: A Comprehensive Survey [PDF]: https://lnkd.in/dN93rv-s #cybersecurity #UAV #drone #communication #jamming #hacking #wireless #war #hostile #DJI #Bayraktar #research #RF #radio #jammer #infosec #spacex

German developers are demonstrating a new drone in Ukraine called HCX which is immune to radio -frequency jamming and detection because it communicates with its operator via a fiber-optic cable. Small drones have become ubiquitous in this conflict; Ukraine plans to build more than a million this year. But radio-frequency jamming has also stepped up. In a recent speech, French Army Chief of Staff Gen. Pierre Schill claimed that 75% of drones in Ukraine were taken down by electronic warfare breaking the link between drone and operator, suggesting that the reign of the drone could soon be over. The HCX made by from HIGHCAT, based in Konstanz, Germany, unspools a fiber-optic cable as it flies. This supplies a high-bandwidth data link immune to radio interference. And because there are no radio emissions, neither the operator nor the drone can be located and targeted.

Small drones are taking over the battlefield, but they still have an Achilles heel: GPS jamming. That’s why I’m extremely proud to lead Theseus’ seed as they build an unjammable replacement. The disproportionate value that scaled production of cheap drones can deliver is now plain for all to see (contributing to the real fear that the USA is behind here). But because GPS has been so good for so long, we’ve become reliant on it, creating a massive threat. Ukraine is losing 80K drones a month primarily due to jamming. And it’s not just a problem abroad either. Cartels are now using GPS jammers at our southern border to prevent surveillance. Current solves are to 1) manually fly drones to bypass jamming or 2) shell out $$$ for heavier equipment that only works for higher-end drones. Theseus is building the world’s first micro Visual Positioning System (VPS) that plugs into any existing drone and simulates the same GPS signal it would have gotten otherwise. It’s what I like to think of as a “water in the desert” kind of product — a 10x better solution that's cheaper and lighter than anything else on the market, letting us do missions we otherwise couldn’t do. It’s also one of the best examples of tech company speed meeting national security needs. Grateful for the chance to work with Sacha Lévy, Ian Laffey and Carl Schoeller. They are hiring engineers right now. The opportunity to make an impact couldn’t be bigger. More below on their story in TechCrunch today in a great write-up from Charles Rollet.