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Hoverfly Technologies, with its Spectre Tethered Unmanned Aerial System (TeUAS), has been awarded the U.S. Army Variable Height Antenna – Heavy (VHA-H) program.
The award comes after the completion of rigorous validation and environmental testing, and will see Hoverfly’s Spectre TeUAS deployed across critical operations as an integral part of the Integrated Tactical Network (ITN).
The program award underlines the TeUAS’s payload compatibility, versatile multi-mission capabilities, and exceptional reliability.
The VHA-H Program
The VHA-H is one of several key technology initiatives directed by the U.S. Army’s Nett Warrior Program, aimed at rapidly prototyping and deploying equipment to modernize tactical communications.
For this role, the Army sought an unmanned tethered drone capable of carrying payloads of at least 5 lbs., remaining airborne indefinitely, and delivering uninterrupted intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, along with communications range extension.
In addition, the TeUAS needed to be ruggedized and robust enough to support warfighters in diverse and austere environments. The Hoverfly Spectre persevered through all of the Army’s demands and was awarded accordingly.
The Hoverfly VHA
The Spectre TeUAS is designed to complement Hoverfly’s flagship Sentry TeUAS, which currently holds the VHA-L position in the Army’s Nett Warrior Program. In June, Hoverfly received a $14 million order for 120 Sentry TeUAS to support this effort.
The Hoverfly Spectre offers a range of advanced features that enhance its operational capabilities:
Increased Payload Capacity
Allows for greater flexibility in mission-specific equipment.
Optimized for Vehicle Mounting and On-the-Move Operations
Ensures seamless integration with military vehicles, providing real-time situational awareness and communication support.
Efficient Lift System
Improves energy efficiency and flight performance in all environments
Enhanced Payload Power Availability
Supports a wide range of high-power payloads, expanding operational versatility.
Now, as the Army’s official VHA-H, the Spectre TeUAS is set to play a crucial role in evolving tethered drone requirements while delivering superior performance and reliability in the field.
The VHA-H selection reportedly brings the company one step closer to becoming a Program of Record (PoR) for the U.S. Army.
Steve Walters, CEO of Hoverfly Technologies, commented, “Spectre’s success is a testament to how innovative and evolved this system truly is. It demonstrates our commitment to delivering robust and reliable tethered drone solutions that exceed the stringent demands of military operations in challenging environments.”
