SteerAI has signed a partnership agreement with Elistair to integrate tethered drone technology into xRift, SteerAI’s next-generation autonomous all-terrain vehicle unveiled at UMEX 2026.
The agreement was signed by Michael Sonderby, Acting CEO of SteerAI, and Mehrez Oueslati, Elistair’s Head of Sales for the Middle East and Africa.
Engineered for multiple off-road missions in challenging, unmapped environments, xRift can integrate a range of payloads for different operational requirements. In addition to Elistair’s Khronos tethered drone payload, which enables secure aerial surveillance, reconnaissance, and tactical communications relay, the platform can also integrate weapons systems, intelligence and communications modules, and logistical supplies.
Michael Sonderby, the Acting CEO of SteerAI, commented, “Partnering with Elistair lets us bring proven aerial capabilities to xRift clients without the delay of creating a new subsystem. Elistair’s tethered drone technology turns our modular autonomous platform into a ready-to-deploy surveillance solution, enabling persistent monitoring and security operations in challenging environments from day one.”
Tethered drone systems address two key challenges in aerial operations: flight time and data security. Unlike battery-powered drones, tethered systems such as the Khronos DroneBox receive continuous power and transmit data through a micro-tether linking the drone to the vehicle.
Guilhem de Marliave, the CEO of Elistair, stated, “xRift’s autonomous capabilities, modular design, and payload flexibility make it an ideal platform for our drone technology. This partnership with SteerAI brings together two complementary technologies to deliver persistent aerial surveillance to operators across the UAE and beyond.”
The agreement is one of several UAE collaborations for SteerAI. Current partners include the Technology Innovation Institute, which developed SteerAI’s initial technology stack, and Milrem Robotics, which is working with SteerAI to autonomize combat platforms for UAE ground forces as part of an autonomy pilot designed to improve safety. SteerAI has also partnered with noon Minutes and Micropolis to integrate CoreConnect, its fleet management system, into last-mile delivery and logistics projects.
Sonderby added, “Partnerships are central to how we deliver autonomy. Working with trusted partners allows us to provide clients with proven, well-integrated systems that meet real operational needs, while supporting the development of the UAE’s long-term autonomous capabilities.”
