Throughout human history, economics, logistics, and the use of force have been intertwined in the pursuit of maximum effectiveness and expected output. The ability to imagine and apply unconventional solutions marks a clear dividing line: the introduction of the Macedonian phalanx overwhelmed the Greek battle order and led to the subjugation of Hellas by Alexander the Great; the introduction of siege weapons created the need for imposing, massive fortifications, a paradigm later overturned by the invention of artillery and the design of thinner walls, built from easily replicable and transportable materials with impact angles meant to deflect shots.

These are just a few examples of a deeper pattern: as technology advances, new suppliers of raw materials and logistics create new commercial empires. Conceptually, the long spears with tapered metal tips used for extended reach by the Macedonian army are identical to the bricks of eighteenth-century fortifications: both respond to the need to adapt one's operations symmetrically to a threat.

The latest frontier of this ongoing process, arriving in the present day, can be found on the Ukrainian battlefield, in the use of drones.

Fig. 1 - Military FPV drone

The first step was replicability and miniaturization, which resulted in a massive drop in production costs. The second step, examined in this article, concerns what guarantees immunity to electronic disruption: kilometers of optical fiber wound onto a reel (a so-called "spool"), which maintains a physical connection with the drone, making it immune to signal loss and enemy frequency jamming.

Production and Value

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