The global demand for optical fiber from AI data centers is driving up costs for Ukrainian drone manufacturers, who rely on the material for unjammable fiber-optic drones. These drones, which are physically connected to operators by cables thinner than fishing lines, have become a common battlefield tool because they are impervious to electronic warfare jamming. While both Russia and Ukraine have developed these systems, the supply chain is facing significant pressure as the material is increasingly treated as a one-time battlefield consumable.
Russia and Ukraine are estimated to produce approximately 50,000 fiber-optic drones per month. These drones can operate at ranges of dozens of miles, with some reaching up to 62 miles in extreme cases, according to The Insider. The fiber is often imported from China in bulk spools or as finished spools ready for immediate installation.
Official Chinese customs data indicates that Russia's economic and security ties with China allow it to import significantly larger quantities of the material than Ukraine. The Washington Post reported that Russia imported 328,000 miles of fiber-optic cable from China in August 2025, while Ukraine received only 72 miles from Chinese companies during the same period.
