Archer Fiber: A New Era for Drones in Electronic Warfare

A new class of drone is beginning to redefine how missions unfold in contested airspace. The Archer Fiber platform, a joint effort by US defense tech firm Neros Technologies and Israel-based Kela Technologies, claims to be the first NDAA-compliant fiber-optic FPV drone. By shifting from radio links to a physical light-based connection, the system is engineered to hold control and video despite heavy electronic warfare interference.

Unlike conventional FPV drones that rely on radio frequency for both control and video, Archer Fiber transmits commands and streams via a fiber optic link. That means no radio signature in the air, reducing detection risk and the chance adversaries can jam or spoof the signal. The approach is pitched as enabling beyond-line-of-sight operations and persistent performance in environments where RF links fail.

According to Interesting Engineering, the Archer Fiber system passed a component-level audit to verify that no critical parts originate in China and has earned BlueUAS clearance, signaling a recognized level of trusted sourcing within the DoD supply chain.

“Electronic warfare is outpacing traditional radios,” said Søren Monroe-Anderson, CEO of Neros Technologies. The fiber path keeps operators “connected, precise, and lethal even in the harshest interference,” framing Archer Fiber as a capability set many US allies now seek at scale. The company emphasizes that the wireless-free link enables beyond-line-of-sight FPV operations, expanding mission profiles that conventional RF-linked drones cannot safely achieve under heavy jamming.

The system has strategic implications beyond a single product. NDAA compliance underscores a broader push to reduce foreign-sourced components in U.S. defense tech, aligning with a national policy agenda to strengthen domestic industrial capacity for small unmanned systems. Neros and Kela position Archer Fiber within a growing category of attritable unmanned systems — low-cost platforms designed for high-risk, high-impact missions where loss is expected and acceptable.

Hamutal Meridor, president of Kela Technologies, described the partnership as a bridge between American defense industrial strength and Israeli battlefield-proven ingenuity. “By uniting American defense industrial power with Israeli battlefield-proven ingenuity, we’re enabling capability development at unprecedented speed,” she said. With Archer Fiber already in use by early adopters, the teams plan to scale U.S.-based manufacturing to meet demand in 2026 and beyond. This is a telling sign of how defense collaborations are evolving to meet both capability and resilience needs.

From an operational viewpoint, Archer Fiber signals a shift in how mission planners will think about drone resilience. The fiber link trades some mobility for a dramatically reduced risk of electronic attack. For units operating in contested airspace, that can mean longer loiter times, steadier video feeds, and more reliable command control when RF could tip off adversaries or be degraded by jamming. The broader takeaway is clear: in future EW scenarios, the ability to keep a drone connected may matter more than extra distance or speed alone.

What makes Archer Fiber different

The core innovation is clear and practical: a fiber-optic line carries both command and video signals, not wireless airwaves. This decoupling from the electromagnetic spectrum makes the drone harder to jam, spoof, or geolocate. The approach also dovetails with NDAA-driven procurement goals, ensuring suppliers meet stringent security and supply chain criteria. In a landscape where debates over foreign-sourced components dominate defense policy, Archer Fiber demonstrates how companies are adapting to both technical and regulatory demands.

Policy and supply chain implications

With BlueUAS clearance and NDAA alignment, Archer Fiber illustrates how industry navigates a shifting policy environment while delivering battlefield-ready capabilities. The project highlights a broader movement toward domestically produced, secure small UAS that can be trusted in sensitive operations. For policymakers, the message is unmistakable: resilience in the supply chain matters as much as raw performance on the range.

Operational outlook

As orders for 2026 delivery begin to stack up, observers will watch how the fiber-based approach scales in real-world theaters. The Archer Fiber concept is part of the attritable unmanned systems family, a class built for affordability and risk-managed impact. If the model proves scalable, it could become a blueprint for other high-risk missions where traditional RF platforms struggle in contested environments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Archer Fiber?

A NDAA-compliant fiber-optic FPV drone designed for resilience in contested electronic warfare environments.

Q: Why use fiber-optic links?

Fiber links carry signals as light through a cable, removing radio emissions and reducing vulnerability to jamming, spoofing, and detection.

Q: What does BlueUAS mean?

A U.S. Department of Defense program for trusted sourcing and risk management in unmanned systems.

Conclusion

Archer Fiber encapsulates a growing shift in drone strategy: resilience and trusted sourcing can redefine what “combat-ready” means in the skies. By combining fiber-optic links with NDAA-aligned supply chains and international collaboration, Neros and Kela are not just delivering a single system — they are signaling a pathway toward more secure, capable, and scalable drone operations in an era of intensified electronic warfare.