Tethered UAS
Tethered UAS meets the mission for a persistent and mobile 400-foot tower.
TCOM’s Tethered UAS (drones) are designed for demanding environments and payloads up to 30 lbs. With advanced autonomy and simplified controls, our systems are up and running from case to air in just a few minutes.
All three UAS models offer up to 30 days of continuous flight time, feature tablet, laptop, and IP network interfaces, include optical navigation with mobile launch, operation, and landing at speeds up to 25 mph, and are equipped with safety features like a backup battery and custom autonomy. They are NDAA-compliant, Technology Readiness Level 9, Manufacturing Readiness Level 7, and made in the USA.
From rainstorms to maritime operations, the Falcon Tethered UAS product line will be your reliable eye in the sky.
Contact us today to learn more about our systems!
TCOM's Family of Tethered UAS for Tactical and Strategic Missions
Mobile Launch and Land
Tactical Aerostat Platforms
TCOM’s Tactical Aerostat Platform is a compact, highly portable persistent surveillance solution designed to meet the tactical needs of operators on the battlefield. These rugged and versatile systems are ideal for land surveillance applications that require rapid deployment, retrieval, and relocation.
Tactical Aerostat Platforms can be customized with payloads that include video surveillance, infrared, and SIGINT / COMMS Relay equipment, enabling forces to obtain actionable data, even in the most remote and challenging terrain. TCOM’s Tactical Aerostat Platforms have been used extensively in theater in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are currently supporting U.S. Customs and Border Patrol in enhancing security along the U.S. border with Mexico. These versatile systems represent the future of aerostat systems deployment and design.
Â
Operational Aerostat Platforms
TCOM’s Operational Aerostat Platforms offer unrivaled versatility and performance. These medium-sized aerostat systems offer both the flexibility and portability for accelerated launch and retrieval, along with the capacity for sustained deployment for up to two weeks at a time.
Operational Aerostat Platforms are ideal for monitoring areas in which ground-based surveillance would be rendered ineffective by domain obstructions, or where manned aerial surveillance is deemed too costly. Versatile Operational Aerostat Platforms may carry payloads that include radar, SIGINT, and COMMS Relay to altitudes as high as 3,000 ft above ground control station. This makes the systems ideal for maritime surveillance applications, protecting ports and coastal borders, as well as inland border surveillance applications
Â
Strategic Aerostat Platforms
TCOM’s Strategic Aerostat Platforms include some of the largest tethered aerostats currently in operation. These robust systems are ideal for aerial surveillance applications due to their enormous payload capacity and extended altitude range. TCOM’s Strategic Aerostat Platforms are capable of sustained deployments lasting up to 30 days at a time.
Typically, Strategic Aerostat Platforms are customized for surveillance applications that involve the detection of low-flying, fast-moving objects including light aircraft and cruise missiles. Strategic platform payloads may include long-range radar, active and passive communications equipment as well as COMINT/ELINT technologies, often carrying payloads as high as 15,000 ft above ground control station. Due to their large size, high altitude, and considerable payload, Strategic Aerostat Platforms use a stationary mooring station.
Tethered Falcon Heavy UAS
This modular, water- and dust-resistant UAS supports extended flights lasting days to weeks and carries up to 30 pounds of payload—such as EO/IR, RADAR, and radio relay—at 400 feet. Its low-EMI IP architecture enables multiple simultaneous payloads and optimized performance.
| Falcon Heavy Specifications | |
| Max Ground Power | 9kW @208-240V AC |
| UAS Weight | 55 lbs. |
| Max Payload Weight | 30 lbs. |
| Tether Length | 400 ft. |
| Wind Tolerance | 25 mph sustained, 35 mph gust |
Tethered Falcon Medium UAS
The Falcon Medium is a modular, water-resistant, heavy-lift UAS designed for high-endurance missions with unlimited tethered flight. Built on a very low-EMI IP architecture, it supports a range of diverse payloads up to 15 pounds.
| Falcon Heavy Specifications | |
| Max Ground Power | 7kW @208-240V AC |
| UAS Weight | 40 lbs. |
| Max Payload Weight | 15 lbs. |
| Tether Length | 400 ft. |
| Wind Tolerance | 25 mph sustained, 35 mph gust |
Tethered Falcon Efficient UAS
Our most compact modular drone is a high-endurance UAS capable of unlimited tethered flight. Designed for power efficiency, it consumes less energy while carrying medium-lift payloads of up to 8 pounds.
| Falcon Heavy Specifications | |
| Max Ground Power | 4kW @110-240V AC |
| UAS Weight | 22 lbs. |
| Max Payload Weight | 8 lbs. |
| Tether Length | 250 ft. |
| Wind Tolerance | 15 mph sustained, 25 mph gust |
Tether Management System (TMS) – Continuous UAS Power Supply
This portable and durable drone power supply enables unlimited flight time while delivering up to 9kW of high-voltage DC power and up to 100Gbps of data via fiber, supporting remote analog RF over fiber antenna systems and 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet through an unhackable smart tether cable with integrated power conductors. It features an actively cooled tether reel with a level-winder and intelligent auto-tensioning, a built-in power loss alarm, and network link power backup
Operational Configuration
Mission Flexibility
A persistent, expeditionary, and rapidly deployable mobile tower supports multiple missions with a multi-mission payload for hunter/killer operations, counter-UAS capabilities, and elevated ISR featuring a variable-height antenna for enhanced communications and supports human-machine teaming. The system includes onboard batteries for surge and safety landing, a power and fiber optic tether, no RF emissions, and full autonomy with single-button launch and land. Optical navigation enables use in GPS-denied environments.
Hybrid Tethered UAS
Falcon Hybrid-Electric
- Designed for extended free flight at high altitude using a fuel-injected gas hybrid-electric power system
- Free-flight altitude: 9,000 feet carrying a 14 lb payload for two hours
Tethered Medium UAS
Falcon Medium
- A heavy-lift, high-endurance UAS capable of unlimited tethered or extended free flight using LiOn/LiPO batteries
- Modular and waterproof, the Falcon Medium can fly several diverse payloads on a very low-EMI IP architecture
- Tethered payload up to 14 lbs
Tethered UAS
Light Lifiting Falcon Light
- Capable of free flight with a payload up to 7 pounds
- Payloads may be cameras, laser tools, remote antenna arrays and other electronics
- Perfect for use in locations where space may be limited
Tethered UAV Payload
Falcon Efficient
- Our most compact drone
- A high-endurance UAS capable of unlimited tethered or free flight using COTS battery solutions
- This petite model is a quad-rotor that uses less energy, maximizing its power efficiency carrying medium-lift payloads (up to 10 lbs)
Tethered UAS Power Supply - Tether System
- Portable and durable drone power supply, able to support unlimited flight time and provide more than 40 Gbps over fiber, remoted Analog RF Over Fiber antenna systems, and 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet via the unhackable smart tether cable power conductors.
- Features an actively cooled tether cable reel, level-winder, and intelligent auto-tensioning.
- Tethered with power over Ethernet w/ Fiber Optic data link bandwidth exceeds 40 Gbps 8×8
- Built in power loss alarm and network link power backup.
Turnkey or Modular
Highly adaptable payload supports simultaneous multi-mission capabilities without compromising power or connectivity. Payloads include camera, direction finder, radios (mesh, SIGINT, EW), radar, or cUAS.
Autonomous Mobile Landing
AI-managed flights simplify controls and automate precision landings on moving platforms to dramatically reduce risk and improve reliability.
System Interfaces
The system supports autonomous or manual control, quick-disconnect payload mounts, and MIL-SPEC connectors with up to 200W for the payload.
Ultra-high Network Speeds
Our unhackable drone tether provides up to 100 GBPS over single mode fiber.
Integrated & Test Payloads
The system features integrated mesh radios, cellular/WiFi, SIGINT/EW, C-UAS, ISR optics, RF survey tools, and radar for comprehensive communications and sensing.