While tethered drones are a valuable asset in many industries, they shine brightest in the defense sector. UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones) have been used in the military and defense industry for years, but the technology used in xCraft’s tethered UAVs provides additional capabilities for specialized applications. These advanced UAVs play a critical role in defending American troops, both at home and abroad.
A tethered UAV remains physically connected to a ground station via a cable. The base station serves to power the drone via the tethered cable, allowing for vastly extended flight times. The tether also acts as a conduit for data transmission. In addition, the tether connections assist the drone in hovering in place at a fixed height. This type of drone is also popular in the security sector, as it makes monitoring a large area a simple task.
The Shadow V2.0 by xCraft can provide surveillance at altitudes up to 100 feet, allowing users a clear picture of the area surrounding the drone’s location. With a 24-hour run time, flight stabilization software, and HD video streaming, the Shadow V2.0 is a premier drone model frequently used by defense, security, and military industries.
Benefits of Tethered UAVs
Endurance
When it comes to longevity, a tethered UAV is optimum. Tethered drones like xCraft’s Shadow can operate uninterrupted for 24 hours or even longer, providing long-term surveillance capability. This longevity makes them a perfect choice in developing situations. The last thing you need to worry about is whether your drone’s battery life will impact your ability to obtain the information you need in a tense situation.
Simplicity
With tethered drones, you don’t need an experienced drone pilot; no sophisticated navigation is necessary for a tethered drone to perform its surveillance function. In an emergency, having real-time intel about on-the-ground activities available to your personnel could prevent disaster. A bird’s-eye view of a situation gives your team a tactical advantage, whether used for reconnaissance, surveillance, crowd control, threat assessment, response, or evacuation.
Safety and Portability
A tethered drone cannot fly loose, meaning that operation is virtually incident-free in terms of accidents or collateral damage. In addition, xCraft’s military-application tethered drones are lightweight for quick set-up and deployment. And because tethered drones are always as close as the length of the tether, they can be pulled back in a matter of minutes, able to move on to alternate locations whenever necessary.
Defense Sector Uses
Base Protection
Defending forward operating bases is always a challenge for military personnel. The increased vulnerability of these bases means that identifying and assessing threats ahead of time can save lives. Ground-level cameras cannot see far enough and standard drones require active piloting. Tethered UAVs provide the optical range and endurance that forward operating bases need to enhance their security.
Border Monitoring
Maintaining border security is both a difficult and a dangerous job. It requires monitoring vulnerable points of entry, and being able to identify and apprehend criminal elements before or as they cross.
But borders are expansive, and even those areas with natural barriers, fences, or walls cannot be monitored 24/7 by active personnel. Tethered drones allow border patrols to surveil vast areas remotely from a sky-high vantage point, and to track border crossings.
Tethered UAVs provide enhanced visual intelligence for the purpose of protecting and assisting your personnel. If you’re searching for a drone for defense purposes, consider the Shadow V2.0. Contact xCraft today to talk to one of our experts about your defense needs.
