Persistent Network Extension Across the Battlespace
Communication relay drones serve as airborne or maritime network nodes, enabling resilient, beyond line of sight (BLOS) connectivity in complex or denied environments. As modern warfare becomes increasingly reliant on real time data flow, distributed command and control, and unmanned systems integration, relay drones are a critical enabler of tactical and strategic communications.

Mission Fit:

• Extending tactical data links (Link 16, SATCOM, MANET) across terrain and range obstacles

• Acting as airborne or maritime mesh nodes to maintain connectivity in degraded RF environments

• Bridging comms between disaggregated force packages in multi domain operations

• Maintaining line of sight links for UAS, ground forces, or special operations teams

• Relaying voice, video, and sensor data in real time across domains

• Rapid deployment in comms denied zones to support amphibious or expeditionary operations

• Serving as gateway nodes for UGV or USV control across vast operational distances

• Filling gaps left by satellite loss or jamming

Technical Advantages:

• High altitude long endurance platforms with optimized antenna payloads

• Swarm compatible nodes for low altitude, distributed comms layers

• SATCOM to line of sight cross domain bridging

• Dynamic frequency hopping and encryption for anti jam resilience

• Payloads compatible with legacy and next generation tactical radios

• Edge processing capability to compress and prioritize critical traffic

• Can be deployed independently or as part of manned unmanned teams

• Redundant, autonomous routing logic to maintain network coherence under fire

Strategic Utility:

Relay drones provide communications elasticity across the battlespace. In both high end peer conflict and distributed irregular warfare, they enable continuity of command and control, support ISR dissemination, and maintain connectivity to isolated or maneuvering units.

They are particularly valuable in:

• Electromagnetic degraded environments

• Mountainous, urban, or maritime operating areas

• Cross domain task forces with dynamically shifting formations

• Satellite denied or GPS contested theaters

By elevating the tactical network, relay drones act as force multipliers, ensuring decision makers at all echelons have persistent access to data, orders, and situational awareness.

Enabling Information Dominance in Contested Domains:

From UHF and VHF line of sight relays to full spectrum IP mesh networking, communication relay drones allow armed forces to operate faster, further, and with greater resilience. As C2 becomes more dynamic and distributed, these systems are central to next generation kill web architecture and mission command execution.