Is Russia Using Solar Power in Its War Against Ukraine?

by | Aug 7, 2025 | News | 0 comments

A recent drone video from near the Dnipro Bridge in Ukraine’s Kherson region reveals a surprising battlefield upgrade, a Russian FPV (First Person View) drone fitted with solar panels.

Solar cells draped over the drone’s body point to a bold new idea: drones that can stay hidden for days or even weeks, powered only by sunlight.

FPV drones are already widely used for sudden attacks. Soldiers often place these drones near roads or on rooftops, where they silently wait until a target shows up. 

Some even use fiber optic cables instead of wireless signals to save power. But adding solar panels could take this strategy to a new level, drones that never need to return, waiting in “sleep mode” and waking up to strike when a target is detected.

This prototype isn’t perfect. The solar panels look clumsily placed and may affect flight, but the concept is powerful. 

Lightweight solar chargers can easily provide enough power to keep the drone’s camera and video system running all day. Once a target appears, the drone can launch using stored battery power.

Experts believe this could lead the way for “solar minefields”, areas where drones lie in wait and strike either on command or automatically. Though this early model looks rough, it offers a glimpse into the future of drone warfare: silent, solar-powered, and extremely hard to stop.

Source

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2490080-solar-powered-ambush-drones-can-wait-for-targets-like-land-mines

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2025/07/02/creeping-doom-russia-deploys-solar-powered-ambush-drones

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