Cyberlux Corporation has developed a new Group 1 rotary-wing drone platform tailored for U.S. Special Operations forces, combining extended payload capabilities with technologies designed for contested electromagnetic environments. The platform aims to bridge the gap between lightweight tactical drones and the robust communications requirements of modern military operations.
Unveiled alongside a strategic partnership with TrellisWare Technologies, the new platform integrates TrellisWare’s latest low-latency, anti-jam waveform, engineered specifically for unmanned systems. Known for its TSM waveform used by U.S. and allied forces, TrellisWare’s new variant aims to bring mesh networking resilience to FPV drone operation.
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This integration allows the Cyberlux drone to maintain high-fidelity video feeds and command-and-control links in GPS-denied or radio frequency-contested environments, conditions commonly encountered in modern conflict zones. The company describes the system as mission-flexible and “EW-resilient,” emphasizing its ability to operate effectively even under deliberate jamming or electronic attack.
According to Cyberlux, this capability is not an add-on but baked into the platform’s core architecture. The waveform integration ensures seamless connectivity with existing TSM-enabled tactical networks, allowing the drone to serve as an interoperable node within a larger battlefield communications framework. This could allow for real-time data sharing, resilient swarm operations and command relays across dispersed units.
“By integrating this technology into our next-generation UAS, we’re not only expanding the tactical capability of our platforms, we’re ensuring our systems remain fully interoperable and battlefield-ready,” said Mark Schmidt, CEO of Cyberlux.
The FPV component, often limited in military UAS by latency and signal vulnerability, is made more viable with the TSM-based waveform. TrellisWare’s waveform operates on a dynamic mesh network that can self-heal and reroute around interference, offering reliable control and video feed transmission even in spectrum-congested areas.
The military has increasingly emphasized resilient communications as a top priority for small UAS platforms, especially in response to lessons learned in Ukraine, where commercial drones have been repeatedly jammed, spoofed or disabled. The integration of hardened waveforms and interoperability with existing tactical radios is emerging as a key differentiator for defense-grade systems.
Cyberlux has not disclosed the expected procurement path, specific operational use cases or unit pricing. However, the company says the new drone is ready for operational deployment.
Post Image – A Green Beret assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) prepares to launch an FPV drone to be used for a raid operation during Exercise Trojan Footprint, Greece, March 09, 2024 (Post Image Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David Cordova)
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