Sanford, Florida, October 5th / PRNewswire / -- Hoverfly Technologies Today, it was confirmed that the company participated in a recent field test conducted by the U.S. Army Mobile Combat Laboratory ( MBL ) in Fort Benning , Georgia. Defense media has widely reported on the Army's evaluation of tethered drones installed on Infantry Squad Vehicles-Universal Type ( ISV-U ), with the aim of expanding line-of-sight communication and reconnaissance capabilities.

What these reports do not mention is that the name of the tethered drone appearing in the picture is Hoverfly Spectre TeUAS.

Industry commentators describe the Fort Benning event as a test of an emerging concept. For Hoverfly, this is just the next step in years of work. This experiment is based on more than 700 sets of Hoverfly TeUAS that have been deployed, five years of direct feedback from soldiers, and multiple rotations at national training centers; all these experiences have shaped today's Spectre TeUAS. Hoverfly indicates that Fort Benning has proven that these efforts have created a mature platform ready for actual combat, which has also been optimized to meet the needs of combat personnel.

Deployed Force Multiplier

When defense reports do not mention the brand name, it can lead to a combat capability appearing to be a prototype in the process of finding its place. Hoverfly indicates that its tethered drone technology has defined this category and has been in use on the front lines for many years.

• The only TeUAS on Blue List: Hoverfly Spectre is the first and only tethered drone platform officially approved on DCMA Blue UAS List, and has been verified as safe through AUVSI Green UAS.
• The VHA-Heavy officially adopted by the U.S. Army: Spectre TeUAS has been selected as the designated VHA-Heavy for PDM Nett Warrior FY25.
• More than 700 sets of TeUAS systems have been deployed: To date, Hoverfly has delivered over 700 sets of these systems to the US military and allied forces. These platforms have been deployed around the world for base security, battalion-level communications, and continuous ISR.

Verification in Fort Benning

During the two-week MBL evaluation, which is part of McKenna Field Landing Site, soldiers, capability developers, departments responsible for the deployment of aerial robots, as well as the lead for strategic spectrum warfare products (PL SSW), conducted rigorous tactical tests on tethered drone platforms, including Hoverfly Spectre.

Hoverfly Spectre is directly integrated into ISV-U on mobile platforms, demonstrating a dynamic "follow mode" that allows it to hover smoothly above the vehicle as it traverses complex off-road terrains. This system operates at a maximum height of 200 feet, serving as both an aerial mobility sensor and a radio relay node. While maintaining synchronization with the motorized units, it extends the range of command and control (C2) and situational awareness beyond the limitations of the physical terrain.

Built for combat personnel

Modern battlefields have no tolerance for short flight times or fragile wireless links. Traditional battery-powered drones usually need to have their batteries replaced after 30 minutes, or they are immediately interfered with in environments with tight electromagnetic spectra, thereby jeopardizing intelligence for critical missions. Hoverfly indicates that Spectre is designed for such environments.

By utilizing physical retention lines to provide continuous power supply and high-speed data, Spectre TeUAS has completely eliminated flight time limitations, while also enabling zero-radiation frequency (RF) transmission for command and control. In the contested environments simulated by Fort Benning, this secure physical connection allows operators to bypass active RF signal interference, relay communications between terrain obstacles, and track targets over longer distances without exposing the team's location to electronic detection.

Executive MBL Live Experimentation Branch and Captain Sarah Runion stated: "In just a few minutes, I will be able to launch the [drone] into the air... and then with just one button press, I can make it land quickly and easily. It's a very user-friendly experience."

The contractor responsible for the Strategic Spectrum Warfare products, Mark Pagliaro, added: "It's very much like a very tall tower. By placing sensors so high in their combat zones, it affects the mobility of the units and allows them to expand their range and see farther."

Leading TeUAS: Spectre

Hoverfly Spectre stands out with a range of key combat capabilities essential for modern multi-domain operations:

• Unrivaled durability: Tethered power supply enables 24/7 aerial operation for continuous monitoring, target indication, and expansion of mobile mesh networks, without the need for battery replacement cycles.
• Combat in contested environments: Wired control and data transmission can reduce interference, mitigate the impact of RF characteristics, and protect tactical units in environments affected by electronic warfare.
• Dynamic mobility in motion: Automatic takeoff, landing, and dynamic tracking modes enable lightweight maneuvering platforms like ISV-U to maintain continuous aerial coverage at tactical speeds.

We are the topic itself.

Hoverfly indicates that the company has been shaping the demand for tethered drones over the years, transforming theoretical technologies and critical mission requirements into actually deployed capabilities. Spectre adopts a modular and open system approach (MOSA), supporting a flexible payload capacity of up to 8 pounds, including EO / IR optical equipment, tactical radios (MANET / MIMO), and anti-drone sensors, which have already provided combat personnel with a multiplied aerial advantage every day.

Fort Benning is just another chapter in this story. Every deployed system, every encounter between soldiers, and every training rotation are shaping the design of Spectre; as the army continues to refine its operations with lightweight tactical vehicles, Hoverfly Spectre indicates that it is ready to fly alongside them today.

Abstract

Recent news reports have focused on the U.S. Army Maneuverable Combat Laboratory (MBL) conducting tests on tethered drones installed on Infantry Squad Vehicles – Universal Type (ISV-U) in Fort Benning. These tests include the combat verification version (Hoverfly Spectre) that appears in the images of the test reports.

Key points:

• Clarification of Identity: It is confirmed that the tethered drones appearing in recent reports on the maneuvers of the Army’s ISV-U and the tests of ISR are actually Hoverfly Spectre.
• Verified records: It is emphasized that Hoverfly Spectre is the only tethered drone on DCMA Blue UAS Cleared List, and more than 700 sets of Hoverfly TeUAS systems have been deployed to the US military and allied forces.
• In-motion coverage: Verified the "follow mode" capability at a maximum height of 200 feet, following the dynamics of mobile tactical vehicles, allowing for extended visibility and mesh communication over terrain obstacles.
• Higher security: Emphasizes that physically secured data links can bypass RF interference and maintain zero RF control characteristics in contested electronic warfare environments.

About Hoverfly Technologies

Hoverfly Technologies is a provider of tethered drone systems for the defense and security sector. As a manufacturer of Blue UAS Cleared, Hoverfly's technology can provide 24/7 situational awareness and secure communications in the most demanding combat environments.