Elistair rolls out tethered drone for comms relay missions
The Orion HL has been beta-tested by partners including the Norwegian Army. (Photo: Elistair)
The Elistair Orion HL is designed for use as a persistent relay solution to form part of a secured mobile network.
Elistair has unveiled the Orion Heavy Lift (HL) tethered UAS to support growing demand for variable-height antennas from military, public safety and homeland security customers.
Tethered drones can enable the establishment and extension of secured mobile networks, with rapid deployment and persistence in the air.
The HL is based on the Orion platform used by over 30 countries for ISR missions, with the same levels of automation, ruggedisation and safety architecture. It can carry a 4kg payloads to 90m and 5kg to 50m altitudes, with a flight duration of 50h
Related Articles
Norway launches market study for VTOL UAV
Camcopter S-100 relays acoustic buoy surveillance in NATO exercise
'The introduction of the Heavy Lift version... provides us with a very useful tool for lifting communication equipment to create temporary communication coverage in challenging areas of operation,' a representative of the Norwegian Army Combined Arms Battle Laboratory said in an Elistair release.
A beta-testing programme with selected partners has allowed successful integration of a CORDIS Array II from Radionor, a 5G relay and a SIGINT payload.
First deliveries of Orion HL are planned for late May 2023.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Romania approved for additional $280 million Patriot Air Defence System buy]()
Romania approved for additional $280 million Patriot Air Defence System buy
The possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) from the US will cover the system and any related equipment with Lockheed Martin and RTX as primary contractors.
-
![Polaris to unveil new MRZR Alpha base vehicle at Modern Day Marine]()
Polaris to unveil new MRZR Alpha base vehicle at Modern Day Marine
The new platform was designed to provide 1KW of exportable power as standard and has been developed in partnership with the US Marine Corps (USMC).
-
![British Army details Ajax plans]()
British Army details Ajax plans
Of the six variants in the Ajax programme – reconnaissance (Ajax), reconnaissance support (Ares), C2 (Athena), equipment repair (Apollo), equipment recovery (Atlas) and engineering reconnaissance (Argus) – the Ajax reconnaissance version is now entering service.
-
![CV90 revels in northern exposure while looking for new customers (updated April 2025)]()
CV90 revels in northern exposure while looking for new customers (updated April 2025)
The BAE Systems Hägglunds’ CV90 IFV has been around for decades but continual refreshing to maintain power and relevance, along with a healthy market at home in Sweden and neighbouring countries, has led to more than 1,700 vehicle orders with 10 countries.
-
![Oshkosh notches JLTV win with Dutch order]()
Oshkosh notches JLTV win with Dutch order
The order further extends the Oshkosh Defense production line as AM General, selected for US orders, pushes to get vehicles out the door with no room for export orders.
-
![US and Europe continue moves to boost 155mm munitions production]()
US and Europe continue moves to boost 155mm munitions production
The new US facility for 155mm artillery projectiles is a reflection of a worldwide trend which has also seen Rheinmetall and BAE Systems working to improve capability in the same area.
