Drone Aviation has received a contract from an undisclosed US Department of Defense (DoD) customer for WATT electric tethered drones.

The contract includes the delivery of WATT electric tethered aerial platform (ETAP), as well as complete in-field support packages and operator flight training.

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The WATT can be used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) applications that support dual sensor electro-optical / infrared (EO / IR) military-grade, highly stabilised turret-style gimballed payloads providing day and night-time video for use in all-weather environments, the company said in a statement.

Drone Aviation chairman and CEO Jay Nussbaum said: "This new award from the DoD is a significant milestone for our company as we officially begin to train and support our nation's early adopters of tethered drones.

"We expect this initial award to generate valuable data and deployment experience, something we intend to leverage to convert our prospect pipeline into tethered drone sales to customers in the government and commercial markets.

"We look forward to working closely and supporting our new customer which we believe will continue to strengthen our long-standing relationship with the DoD.”

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"This new award from the DoD is a significant milestone for our company as we officially begin to train and support our nation's early adopters of tethered drones."

Drone Aviation's patented ETAP is designed to provide secure and reliable aerial communications and monitoring for extended durations.

WATT employs a high strength, Kevlar-armoured tether that is connected to the ground and delivers effective coverage from altitudes up to 400ft for up to eight hours or more.

It is said to provide persistent ISR and aerial monitoring capabilities over a wide area, by supporting advanced mil-spec communications packages and sensors such as highly stabilised zoom EO/IR systems.

Image: WATT electric tethered drone. Photo: courtesy of Drone Aviation Holding Corp / Marketwired.

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