Elistair rolls out tethered drone for comms relay missions
The Orion HL has been beta-tested by partners including the Norwegian Army. (Photo: Elistair)
The Elistair Orion HL is designed for use as a persistent relay solution to form part of a secured mobile network.
Elistair has unveiled the Orion Heavy Lift (HL) tethered UAS to support growing demand for variable-height antennas from military, public safety and homeland security customers.
Tethered drones can enable the establishment and extension of secured mobile networks, with rapid deployment and persistence in the air.
The HL is based on the Orion platform used by over 30 countries for ISR missions, with the same levels of automation, ruggedisation and safety architecture. It can carry a 4kg payloads to 90m and 5kg to 50m altitudes, with a flight duration of 50h
Related Articles
Norway launches market study for VTOL UAV
Camcopter S-100 relays acoustic buoy surveillance in NATO exercise
'The introduction of the Heavy Lift version... provides us with a very useful tool for lifting communication equipment to create temporary communication coverage in challenging areas of operation,' a representative of the Norwegian Army Combined Arms Battle Laboratory said in an Elistair release.
A beta-testing programme with selected partners has allowed successful integration of a CORDIS Array II from Radionor, a 5G relay and a SIGINT payload.
First deliveries of Orion HL are planned for late May 2023.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![AUSA 2025: Mack Defense bets on commercial technology to get US military contracts]()
AUSA 2025: Mack Defense bets on commercial technology to get US military contracts
The company is currently involved in the US Army Common Tactical Truck and the US Marine Corps Medium Tactical Truck programmes.
-
![AUSA 2025: US forces test Global Ordnance Scorpion Light mobile mortar system]()
AUSA 2025: US forces test Global Ordnance Scorpion Light mobile mortar system
Following its participation in a live-fire event with the US Marine Corps, the Global Ordnance Scorpion Light 81mm mobile mortar system will now be tested by the US Army.
-
![Precision on Demand: The New Age of Loitering Weapons (Podcast)]()
Precision on Demand: The New Age of Loitering Weapons (Podcast)
Loitering munitions provide vital capabilities in the disrupted and unpredictable modern battlespace, from real-time ISR to a virtually “on demand” strike capability. Rafael is looking to the future of the technology, empowering systems to operate with increasing autonomy in hostile environments.
-
![AM General completes JLTV demonstration for British Army programme and picks a partner]()
AM General completes JLTV demonstration for British Army programme and picks a partner
The British Army’s Land Mobility Programme is the golden ring for vehicle makers across the world and particularly industry in the UK, with a prize of billions of dollars across three programmes.
-
![Thales’ Ground Fire radar meets growing European demand for airspace protection]()
Thales’ Ground Fire radar meets growing European demand for airspace protection
The new radar will be used to enhance the French-Italian SAMP/T NG system with a greater surveillance range and wider coverage to detect, track and classify targets.
-
![US Army orders 86 Mack Defense M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks]()
US Army orders 86 Mack Defense M917A3 Heavy Dump Trucks
The initial order was placed as part of the $222 million, five-year contract awarded to Mack Defense in June.
