Hezbollah likely obtained drones capable of attacking deep into n. Israel, defense officials fear

Defense establishment officials are expressing serious concern that Hezbollah may have obtained first-person view (FPV) drones with an operational range extending up to 60 kilometers. If confirmed, this capability would pose a substantial threat to northern Israel, potentially exposing critical strategic infrastructure and sensitive sites, and enabling attacks on major cities such as Haifa.

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The main challenge is the weight-to-energy equation.

FPV drones are considered a particularly challenging tactical threat due to their immunity to GPS jamming and other electronic countermeasures. They operate via a direct connection to the operator's controller through a micro-thin fiber-optic cable, allowing for precise control right up to the point of impact. An IDF military drone expert indicated that while theoretically capable of reaching 55-60km, operating FPV drones over such distances presents significant engineering hurdles.

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To reach these kinds of ranges, you need a high-capacity battery that weighs significantly more than a standard one. This comes at the expense of the payload.

The primary challenge, according to the expert, lies in the weight-to-energy equation: achieving the necessary range requires a high-capacity battery that increases weight, thereby reducing the drone's payload capacity. Additionally, the weight of the connecting cable and wind resistance over long distances create "serious technical constraints." The expert also noted that Hezbollah's current skill level with these drones does not yet match that seen in the Ukraine-Russia War, and emphasized that larger threats, such as large-scale drone swarms, are already operationally deployed.

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Fortunately, Hezbollah's skill level is not yet on par with what we are seeing in the Ukraine-Russia War.