Fiber-optic UAV manufacturers in Ukraine are paying roughly 6-10 times more for fiber optics than in 2025, as military demand competes with growing needs for AI data centers. The reported Chinese customs figures for August 2025 – 328,000 miles of cable imported by Russia compared to 72 miles by Ukraine – highlight the acute imbalance in supply. Ukraine's BlueBird Tech told Ars Technica that fiber optic cable prices will increase six- to tenfold between 2025 and 2026 due to demand for AI hubs, and Russia will import over 37 million miles of fiber in 2025, more than 10% of global output.

Fiber-optic UAV manufacturers in Ukraine are paying roughly 6-10 times more for fiber optics than in 2025, as military demand competes with growing needs for AI data centers. The reported Chinese customs figures for August 2025 – 328,000 miles of cable imported by Russia compared to 72 miles by Ukraine – highlight the acute imbalance in supply. Ukraine's BlueBird Tech told Ars Technica that fiber optic cable prices will increase six- to tenfold between 2025 and 2026 due to demand for AI hubs, and Russia will import over 37 million miles of fiber in 2025, more than 10% of global output.