Artificial intelligence data centers drive up fiber-optic cable costs for Ukrainian drone makers

Intense global demand for fiber-optic cabling fueled by artificial intelligence data center construction is choking supplies for Ukrainian military drones. A representative for Ukrainian defense firm BlueBird Tech told Ars Technica that fiber-optic cable prices have surged by six to 10 times over the past couple of years. Both Ukraine and Russia are estimated to build around 50,000 fiber-optic drones each month to evade electronic jamming, deploying spools capable of reaching ranges up to 62 miles. [1][2]

The price spikes arrive amid an estimated 111-million-mile worldwide fiber shortage, leaving Ukrainian forces severely out-supplied. Ukraine acquired only 72 miles of fiber-optic cable from Chinese suppliers in August 2025, compared to 328,000 miles imported by Russia in that month alone. BlueBird stated that some Chinese vendors have refused to sell to Ukraine outright, while Russia leveraged its shared border to secure an estimated 37 million miles of fiber across 2025, representing more than 10% of global output. [1]

Domestic manufacturing inside Ukraine faces steep hurdles, including an acute need for skilled personnel to oversee automated production lines and train using scarce cabling. While Ukraine can attempt to purchase through intermediaries in other countries, BlueBird noted that China remains the core global source for the raw material, complicating efforts to sustain frontline unjammable drone operations. [1][2]