Tethered Drone Flies from Uncrewed Vessel in UK Demo
ACUA Ocean and Teledyne FLIR Defense completed a two-day demonstration for the UK Ministry of Defence and offshore industry partners in Plymouth, showcasing an integrated tethered uncrewed aerial system operating from an uncrewed surface vessel. The demonstration, funded by UK Defence Innovation, saw Teledyne FLIR's SkyCarrier platform autonomously launch a SkyRanger R70 drone from ACUA Ocean's USV Pioneer, the UK's first Lloyd's Register-certified remotely operated uncrewed vessel. The tethered configuration removes reliance on onboard battery endurance, enabling continuous aerial surveillance slaved to the vessel's position. The USV Pioneer has previously completed Royal Navy ISR and anti-submarine warfare contracts, and in January 2026 operated in 4.25-metre wave heights. The combined system addresses Royal Navy requirements for persistent maritime awareness without personnel risk, with applications in anti-submarine warfare, mine countermeasures, intelligence gathering, and critical infrastructure protection.
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