Hoverfly Technologies has delivered a Sentry tethered unmanned aerial system (TeUAS) to the Australian Defence Force for trial and evaluation.
The procurement will support a series of military drills this year, where the platform will showcase its “battlefield awareness and force protection.”
The American company’s shipment was made in collaboration with New South Wales-based tactical equipment supplier Maser Defence.
According to Hoverfly, the Sentry is compatible with autonomous payloads required for “persistent” airborne mission sets involving surveillance, communication network extension, and anti-drone tasks.
It also allows seamless integration with existing command and control systems, enhancing situational awareness and timely decision-making for warfighters.
“The inclusion of the Hoverfly Sentry in major [Australian Defence Force] exercises highlights the growing interest in tethered UAS technology for enhancing battlefield awareness and force protection,” Hoverfly said.
“With the successful delivery of Sentry TeUAS, Hoverfly Technologies and Maser Defence are committed to supporting Australia’s defence initiatives by strengthening sovereign defence capabilities and enhancing operational effectiveness for Australia’s military and security forces.
Hoverfly’s Sentry VTOL UAS
The Sentry vertical takeoff and landing system is designed for surveillance, infrastructure and border monitoring, search and rescue, and disaster management.
It employs an electro-optical/infrared camera, a sensor suite, and communication relays to maintain a real-time intelligence feed in day and night operations.
The drone weighs up to 10 kilograms (22 pounds), has a 3-kilogram (6.6-pound) payload capacity, and continuous flight due to its cabled power source that can extend up to 200 meters (656 feet).
In the field, the Sentry UAS can reach up to 150 meters (492 feet) of altitude and has a data transmission range of 5 kilometers (3.1 miles).
