Persistent UAS for the Modern Warfighter
Leonardo DRS and Hoverfly Technologies Inc. (HTI) have solidified a strategic partnership aimed at accelerating the deployment of tethered Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) across the global defense landscape.
Hoverfly is the industry leader in tethered drone technology and is notably the only tethered UAS provider recognized on the Blue UAS list. As a lead investor and strategic partner, Leonardo DRS is integrating Hoverfly’s persistent aerial solutions into our broader mission to provide unmatched battlefield superiority at the tactical edge.
Our Collaborative Mission: Production at Scale
This partnership goes beyond investment. To meet the surging demand for persistent ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) and network communication infrastructure, Leonardo DRS has a comprehensive manufacturing agreement with Hoverfly.
By leveraging DRS’s world-class manufacturing facilities and supply chain expertise, we are:
- Expanding Production: Scaling the manufacturing of the flight-proven Hoverfly Sentry system.
- Launching Innovation: Establishing a dedicated production line for the next-generation Hoverfly Spectre system.
- Integrated Reselling: Leonardo DRS now serves as an official reseller and integrator, ensuring Hoverfly’s tethered drones are seamlessly incorporated into DRS’s advanced sensing and network computing suites.
The Technology: Hoverfly Sentry & Spectre
Hoverfly’s TeUAS provides a persistent platform that can stay aloft indefinitely, offering advantages that traditional battery-operated drones cannot match.
Persistent ISR
Continuous, 24/7 overhead surveillance with no flight-time limitations.
Secure Communications
Power and data are transmitted via a secure physical tether, making the systems immune to RF jamming and undetectable by electronic warfare.
On-the-Move Capability
Rapidly deployable from moving vehicles or vessels, providing a constant security vantage point.
Counter-UAS Detection
Extended reach and reliability for C-UAS sensors, offering completely passive detection.
NEXUS
Unmanned ecosystem offering range extension for SRR and loitering munitions, advancing kill-chains for higher lethality and improved survivability.
The Strategic Impact
For Leonardo DRS, this alliance reinforces our commitment to Advanced Sensing and Force Protection.
By combining Hoverfly’s persistent aerial platforms with DRS’s computing and sensor excellence, we provide the warfighter with:
- Enhanced Situational Awareness: High-resolution video and data delivered in real-time.
- GPS-Denied Reliability: Stable flight and navigation even in contested, GPS-independent environments.
- Reduced Cognitive Load: Autonomous launch, flight, and recovery—allowing operators to focus on the mission, not the piloting.
Forward-Thinking Defense
Leonardo DRS and Hoverfly are not just keeping pace with the evolution of the battlefield; we are defining it. This partnership reflects a shared focus on reliability, performance, and mission-readiness.
Together, we are ensuring that those on the front lines always “Own the Edge.”
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Media Contact
Carrie Robinson
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
[email protected]
+1 321 266 7691
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