Fiber optic spools made in Lithuania, EU

Fiber Optic Drone Spools: Make Your Drones Unjammable

Unjammable control and live video feed — up to 50 km / 31 miles. The world's highest-quality, lowest-weight fiber optic spools for drones.

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60 kmmax tether range
4000+spools per month
99.9%complete unwinding
EUmade & warrantied

From ISR to Strike:
We Enable the Full Mission Cycle.

Operator attaching an OPTAC fiber optic spool to a UAV in the field

About us

Developed on the battlefield. Manufactured in Lithuania, EU.

Who we are defines what we do, and what we do reflects what we believe in.

We are not just engineers. Our team unites aerospace, satellite launches, advanced 3D printing, heavy industry, programming, and electronics — together with military service and combat UAV experience on Ukraine's frontlines.

Built on NATO's eastern edge in Lithuania, Europe, with pride in defending freedom. Featured in American and Ukrainian media.

OPTAC team members with combat UAV experience

If NATO ever comes face to face with the common enemy…

…many Western-made FPV drones might not even lift off the ground.

As a constant standard, today's armed conflict zones are heavily saturated with electronic warfare and GPS jamming.

Even with newly tuned drones on uncommon RX/VTX frequencies, combat UAV teams still have no certainty they'll fly — or hit their target.

You may build incredible drones — but can they fly when 300 MHz to 1050 MHz, 1.2–1.5 GHz, 2.1–2.7 GHz, 2.4 GHz, 5.2 GHz, and 5.8 GHz are under enemy jamming?

The solution

The world's highest-quality, lowest-weight fiber optic spools for drones.

Unjammable control and live video feed — up to 50 km / 31 miles.

See spool models

Feature-rich. Mission-ready. Cost-effective.

OPTAC does not have the limitations of other fibre optic systems.

Fly fast, fly high

42 m/s (150 km/h / 81 kt) speed and 150 m (492 ft) altitude are not the limit.

Complete unwinding

Complete unwinding — to the bone, every time. 99.9% complete spool unwinding guarantee.

Any platform

Mounts easily on any drone platform. Custom integrations for air, land, and naval systems.

Incomparable build quality

Incomparable build quality compared to traditional fiber optic spools. Backed by EU warranty.

OPTAC fiber optic spools in service with the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade — In service on the frontline — 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, Ukraine.

Specifications

Mission-Ready Fiber Optic Spool Models for UAVs

VTX+RX spool model	Weight in flight	Dimensions
Short-range datalink
MICRO CQB · 2.5–3.3 km / 1.6–2.1 mi	On request	On request
mini 5 km / 3.1 mi	On request	On request
10 km / 6.2 mi	1.0 kg / 2.2 lbs	30 × 13.5 cm / 11.8 × 5.3 in
Mid-range
15 km / 9.3 mi	1.3 kg / 2.9 lbs	30 × 13.5 cm / 11.8 × 5.3 in
20 km / 12.4 mi	1.6 kg / 3.5 lbs	36 × 13.5 cm / 14.2 × 5.3 in
Long-range
25 km / 15.5 mi	2.0 kg / 4.4 lbs	36 × 13.5 cm / 14.2 × 5.3 in
30 km / 18.6 mi	On request	On request
50 km / 31.1 mi	4.0 kg / 8.8 lbs	44 × 16 cm / 17.3 × 6.3 in
60 km / 37.3 mi	On request	On request

Always request the latest specifications, as our products are constantly being improved.

Custom integrations for air, land, and naval platforms — with tailored lengths and configurations available on request.

Request latest specs

OPTAC 25 km spool weighed at 2078 g — 25 km / 15.5 mi spool on the scale.

Why unique

Engineered and manufactured on equipment we designed and built in-house, then precisely calibrated for UAV flight dynamics.

4000+: Spools per month
×2 / 3w: Production capacity can be doubled every three weeks
100%: China-free production possible on demand
1 year: EU warranty
99.9%: Complete spool unwinding guarantee*

* Ask us for guarantee terms.

In-house designed spool winding equipment

Ground control

OPTAC OPTX Ground Control Modules

Seamless, click-in solution that transforms traditional RC controllers into fiber-optic systems.

The OPTX JR-bay module clicks into standard RC transmitters — RadioMaster Boxer, TX12 and compatible radios — connecting your controller and goggles to the fiber line in seconds. No custom hardware, no soldering.

Ask about OPTX modules

Operator using RC controller and goggles connected via OPTX module to the fiber line

Fiber optic datasheet

High-reliability, bending-insensitive single-mode fiber.

OPTAC uses only high-reliability bending-insensitive single-mode optical fiber engineered for mission-critical optical communication systems where compact routing, mechanical robustness, and stable signal integrity are required. It maintains low attenuation and consistent optical performance even under tight bending. High-performance dual-layer acrylate coatings provide robust mechanical protection and long-term environmental stability under temperature cycling, humidity exposure, and other demanding field conditions.

Optical properties

Characteristic	Condition	Data	Unit
Attenuation	1310 nm	≤ 0.36	dB/km
	1383 nm	≤ 0.34	dB/km
	1550 nm	≤ 0.22	dB/km
	1625 nm	≤ 0.24	dB/km
Zero dispersion wavelength	—	1300–1324	nm
Zero dispersion slope	—	≤ 0.092	ps/(nm²·km)
Max single-fiber PMD / link value (M=20, Q=0.01%) / typical	—	≤ 0.2 / ≤ 0.06 / 0.04	ps/√km
Optical cable cutoff wavelength λcc	—	≤ 1260	nm
Mode field diameter (MFD)	1310 nm	8.6 ± 0.4	µm
Mode field diameter (MFD)	1550 nm	9.9 ± 0.5	µm
Effective group refractive index	1310 nm	1.4683	—
Effective group refractive index	1550 nm	1.4688	—
Discontinuity of attenuation	1310 nm	≤ 0.05	dB
Discontinuity of attenuation	1550 nm	≤ 0.05	dB

Geometrical features

Characteristic	Data	Unit
Cladding diameter	125 ± 0.7	µm
Cladding non-circularity	≤ 0.7	%
Coating diameter	245 ± 10	µm
Coating/bonding concentricity error	≤ 12.0	µm
Core/encapsulant concentricity error	≤ 0.5	µm
Warpage (radius)	≥ 4.0	m

Environmental characteristics (1310 nm & 1550 nm & 1625 nm)

Characteristic	Condition	Data	Unit
Temperature additional attenuation	−60 °C to +85 °C	≤ 0.05	dB/km
Temperature-humidity cycle additional attenuation	−10 °C to +85 °C, 98% relative humidity	≤ 0.05	dB/km
Submersion additional attenuation	23 °C, 30 days	≤ 0.05	dB/km
Hydrothermal additional attenuation	85 °C and 85% relative humidity, 30 days	≤ 0.05	dB/km
Dry heat aging	85 °C, 30 days	≤ 0.05	dB/km

Mechanical characteristics

Characteristic	Condition	Data	Unit
Filtering tension	—	≥ 9.0	N
Flanged pipe, 10 turns, diameter 30 mm	1550 nm	≤ 0.03	dB
Flanged pipe, 10 turns, diameter 30 mm	1625 nm	≤ 0.1	dB
Flange 1, 1 circle, diameter 20 mm	1550 nm	≤ 0.1	dB
Flange 1, 1 circle, diameter 20 mm	1625 nm	≤ 0.2	dB
Flange 1, 1 circle, diameter 15 mm	1550 nm	≤ 0.5	dB
Flange 1, 1 circle, diameter 15 mm	1625 nm	≤ 1.0	dB
Stripping resistance	average / peak	1.0–5.0 / 1.3–8.9	N

Integration

OPTAC VTX/RX 10–60 km Hardware Integration Guide

Pinout — connect to flight controller

Pin	Signal	Connect to FC	Description
1 Black	GND	GND	Ground
2 Red	VIN	BAT	Power input 5.5 V – 26 V
3 White	SBUS OUT	SBUS IN	Control output to FC
4 Yellow	VIDEO IN	VTX / VIDEO OUT	Analog video input

Cable length: 20 cm
Cable interface: Molex Picoblade 4-pin, 1.25 mm pitch male
Mating part: Molex Picoblade 4-pin, 1.25 mm pitch female
Mounting on UAV: secure with zip ties, 5 cm behind rear propellers

RadioMaster Boxer / TX12 config with OPTX JR module

Open Model Setup (long-press MDL)
On the Setup page, enable External RF
Set Mode = SBUS
Set Inversion = Non-inverted
Leave Trainer Mode = OFF
Go to SYS page to verify channel order = AETR1234

Drone config

Open Betaflight / iNav / ArduPilot
In Ports tab enable Serial RX on the UART where SBUS is connected
Save and reboot

RadioMaster transmitter configuration screens for the OPTX module

Need help with integration on your platform? Talk to our engineers →

FAQ

Fiber Optic Drones — Frequently Asked Questions

What is a fiber optic drone?

A fiber optic drone is an FPV drone or other UAV controlled through a hair-thin optical fiber instead of a radio link. The fiber unwinds from a spool mounted on the aircraft and carries both control signals and live video. Because nothing is transmitted over the air, the link cannot be jammed by electronic warfare and emits no radio signature to detect.

What is the range of a fiber optic drone?

Range is set by the spool. OPTAC produces fiber optic spool models from 2.5 km to 60 km (1.6–37 mi) of tether, with speeds up to 42 m/s and altitudes up to 150 m proven in combat use — and a 99.9% complete unwinding guarantee.

Why can't fiber optic FPV drones be jammed or detected?

Control and video travel inside the optical fiber, not over radio frequencies. Electronic warfare that suppresses the 300 MHz – 5.8 GHz bands has nothing to attack: the drone keeps flying and streaming video right next to active jammers, and it stays invisible to RF direction-finders.

How much does a fiber optic spool weigh?

OPTAC spools weigh from 1.0 kg (2.2 lbs) for the 10 km model up to 4.0 kg (8.8 lbs) for 50 km — engineered as the lowest-weight spools in their class and precisely calibrated for UAV flight dynamics.

Which drones and controllers are compatible?

The spools mount on any FPV drone or UAV platform, with custom integrations for air, land and naval systems. On the ground side, OPTX JR-bay modules click into RadioMaster Boxer, TX12 and compatible RC transmitters — no soldering required.

How can we order OPTAC spools?

We work with armed forces, government procurement and defense industry partners. Request a quote with your platform and required tether length, and we'll come back with pricing, lead times and the latest specifications. End-use documentation may be required.

Contact

Request a quote or the latest specs.

Tell us about your platform and mission requirements — we'll come back with pricing, lead times, and the latest specifications.

Emailinfo@optac.lt
WhatsAppChat with us on WhatsApp →
LocationLithuania, EU — NATO's eastern edge

We work with armed forces, government procurement, and defense industry partners. End-use documentation may be required.