Data security is a weak point for drones
The Russia–Ukraine conflict highlighted the importance of drones in combat, but it also revealed a vulnerability. Ukrainian forces deployed low-tech, inexpensive, and sometimes improvised drones with significant effect. However, they found connectivity to be a serious problem.
Because Russian signal jamming may have caused up to 90% of Ukraine's drones to be lost, Ukrainian forces had to mitigate Russian jamming.
As a result, the weakest link in current drone operations is signal and connectivity. One partial solution is the use of V-band 5G millimeter-wave tactical links, which offer inherently low probability of interception and low probability of detection.
The V-band is notable because radio signals at these frequencies resonate with oxygen molecules in the air. This phenomenon, called oxygen absorption, produces a resonance that causes rapid attenuation over distance, effectively creating an invisible barrier between tactical teams and adversaries. That property gives V-band links their low probability of detection.
These systems can interoperate with existing equipment, providing modularity and resistance to single-point failures.
01 Data warfare escalates
The Vietnam War was the first conflict broadcast on television; the Russia–Ukraine conflict is the first war heavily reliant on and driven by data. From open-source volunteers spotting anomalies on Google Maps, to battlefield communications provided by Starlink satellites, to positions gleaned from troops' social media videos, and the widespread use of lightweight reconnaissance drones, Ukraine's operational backbone depended heavily on data.
Future conflicts are unlikely to move away from concerns about data security, transmission, and access. The "digital battlefield" will become increasingly important.
High-end drones such as the "Reaper" can have hourly flight costs around $50,000. If used only for reconnaissance, low-tech smaller drones are very inexpensive but still highly useful, especially for small forces or guerrilla units. Weapon manufacturers have identified this gap and are racing to develop effective yet affordable systems.
The low cost of many drones, particularly improvised ones, reduces concerns about the survivability of each platform and has given rise to the term "kamikaze drones." While this may ease the financial burden of military operations, it creates another challenge for intelligence teams that must turn massive volumes of data into actionable intelligence.
02 Millimeter wave as a low-detection solution
Traditional unlicensed Wi-Fi bands used by the smallest, cheapest drones are not foolproof. Although crowded bands can provide some concealment, Wi-Fi signals are omnidirectional, short-range, easily jammed, and readily detected, making them risky in combat environments.
Unlicensed 60 GHz 5G solutions can provide line-of-sight data links. These links are short-range with data rates up to 3.5 Gbps, and rates above 1 Gbps at 1 km. Their low probability of detection enables stealthy reconnaissance even over hostile territory. Beyond-line-of-sight links can be achieved using multiple relay drones.
Currently, the United States and other NATO countries are conducting military trials and development programs to test 5G network solutions. Their potential lies in enabling long-range, high-speed tactical communications even in unstable environments, while reducing latency and improving data processing performance.
Unmanned platforms are evolving rapidly, and wireless connectivity is advancing in speed and capability. The current industry challenge is to make connectivity systems modular, reliable, and as undetectable as possible. Millimeter-wave technology, with its low detectability, is a key enabler for secure and stealthy links for both manned and unmanned combat systems.
