Tethered UAV systems have specific use cases where their strengths – persistence, secure comms, and quick deployment – provide an operational edge. Below are four primary applications relevant to military and border ISR professionals, each aligning with lessons learned and current doctrine.

Modern military operations are defined by the need for persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) even in highly contested environments. Traditional ISR assets – from satellites to untethered drones – provide invaluable data but face limitations in endurance, electromagnetic warfare resilience, and risk exposure to enemy defenses.