Ukrainian-Polish UMO Defense unveils fibre-optic drones with multi-drone control

Defence company UMO Defense has unveiled 13- and 15-inch-frame fibre-optic drones with multi-drone ground station connectivity at the Brave1 Market, the company told Defender Media.

The Brave1 Market offers four UMO-series strike UAVs: the UMO-13-O25, UMO-15-O25, UMO-15-O30, and UMO-13-O30. All four drones have been codified for military procurement and are equipped with a digital daylight camera and a 25 km or 30 km fibre-optic spool. Depending on the configuration, the drones cost between UAH 115,000 and UAH 127,000.

The UMO drones have a cruising speed of 61–65 km/h, can remain airborne for 25–30 minutes, and carry a payload of 2–2.5 kg. They feature a digital video link and a daylight camera and lack terminal guidance.

All featured models come with removable landing legs. According to the manufacturer, these can be used to set up ambushes, with the drones remaining in standby mode for up to six hours depending on the flight profile.

According to the manufacturer, UMO-series fibre-optic drones operate as part of the UMO HYDRA system, which lets multiple fibre-optic UAVs connect simultaneously and switch between them. Each station can connect up to six UAVs, and two operators can control two drones at once. The system also supports rapid switching between connected aircraft—with safeguards against accidental activation during switching—and integrates with external displays and FPV goggles.

UMO Defense is a Ukrainian company established in late 2025 based on the production division of UMO Ukraine as a standalone entity within the Polish UMO Group. The company focuses on developing, producing, and implementing defence solutions.