DUAL PAYLOAD CAPACITY FOR KHRONOS Khronos is an automated tethered dronebox designed to provide long-endurance aerial capabilities for disaster management and crisis response. Deployable in under two minutes, it can operate up to 24 hours at 60 meters, delivering continuous aerial presence without battery changes. Its main innovation is the Dual Payload capability, combining an EO/IR camera and a tactical mesh radio in a single integrated payload. This allows Khronos to provide real-time aerial surveillance and communication network extension at the same time. For disaster management, this dual function is critical. The camera gives instant overwatch to assess damage, detect hazards, locate people, and monitor evolving situations. At the same time, the radio payload turns the drone into a flying communication node, restoring or extending networks in areas where infrastructure is destroyed, overloaded, or nonexistent. Mounted on a vehicle, Khronos can support mobile operations with a follow-me function at speeds up to 30 km/h. It can be launched in seconds and remain airborne despite strong winds and poor weather. Its GNSS-denied capability ensures reliable operations even in highly disrupted or contested environments. Key advantages: - Dual payload: Creates communication nodes in disconnected areas. - Continuous overwatch: Up to 24 hours of day-and-night monitoring. - Rapid deployment: Operational in less than 2 minutes. - Harsh-environment capability: Operates in GNSS-denied or degraded RF zones. - Team safety: Improves coordination while limiting exposure to danger. By combining persistent aerial surveillance with tactical communication relay in a single system, Khronos Dual Payload gives authorities and responders a powerful tool to see, connect, and coordinate throughout all phases of disaster management.
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The primary objective is to provide continuous aerial oversight over disaster areas, enabling faster assessment of damage, identification of hazards, monitoring of evolving situations, and support to decision-makers. Unlike conventional drones limited by battery life, Khronos Dual Payload offers up to 24 hours of uninterrupted operation, ensuring stable and reliable information flow during long and complex crisis situations. A second key objective is to restore and extend communications in disrupted environments. By integrating a radio and camera in its Dual Payload, Khronos becomes a flying communication node capable of rebuilding tactical networks where terrestrial infrastructure is damaged, overloaded, or nonexistent. This directly addresses one of the main weaknesses of disaster response: the loss of communication between teams, command centers, and field units. Current solutions often separate surveillance and communication tools, creating delays, complexity, and coordination gaps. By combining both functions in a single system, this project simplifies deployment, accelerates response time, and improves coordination between all stakeholders. This project is directly aligned with the needs of modern disaster management: faster response, better coordination, safer operations, and improved efficiency.
The innovation of this project lies in combining persistent aerial surveillance and tactical communications into a single automated system. Khronos Dual Payload integrates an EO/IR camera and a tactical mesh radio in one payload, enabling simultaneous ISR and network extension from the same aerial platform. This removes the need to deploy separate systems for observation and communication, reducing complexity, deployment time, and logistical burden during crises. Another major innovation is mobility. Thanks to its “follow me” function, Khronos can be mounted on a vehicle and operate while moving at up to 30 km/h. This allows the communication node and aerial sensor to move with response teams, extending the network dynamically as units advance into damaged or disconnected areas. The combination of automation, long endurance, dual-function payload and mobile operation creates a unique capability: a flying, persistent, and mobile communication and observation node. This approach transforms how tactical networks and situational awareness are deployed in disaster management, making them faster, simpler, and more resilient than existing solutions.
The proposed solution addresses two of the main operational weaknesses in disaster management: loss of situational awareness and breakdown of communications. During disasters, responders often operate with limited visibility due to damaged infrastructure, inaccessible terrain, smoke, debris, or darkness. Conventional drones provide only short flight times, creating gaps in information. Khronos resolves this by offering persistent aerial presence for up to 24 hours, giving decision-makers continuous real-time insight into the situation, the evolution of risks, and the position of teams and assets. At the same time, disasters frequently destroy or overload communication networks, isolating teams and slowing coordination. Khronos Dual Payload resolves this by acting as a flying communication node. Its integrated radio extends or rebuilds tactical networks, allowing voice, data, and video links to be maintained where no ground network is available. Mobility is another operational challenge. Crisis response is dynamic, with teams constantly moving. Thanks to its “follow me” capability, Khronos can move with response units, maintaining both surveillance and communications as operations progress. By combining long-endurance surveillance, tactical communication relay, and mobile operation in a single system, the solution resolves critical gaps in visibility, connectivity, and coordination, directly improving the effectiveness and safety of disaster response operations.
Elistair is a French designer and manufacturer of automated tethered drone systems, delivering persistent aerial surveillance and tactical communication solutions to military, public safety and private security users in over 70 countries. With ~50 employees and global reach, Elistair’s technology enhances situational awareness for critical operations. Headquartered in France with strong international presence.
Elistair is a French designer and manufacturer of automated tethered drone systems, delivering persistent aerial surveillance and tactical communication solutions to military, public safety and private security users in over 70 countries. With ~50 employees and global reach, Elistair’s technology enhances situational awareness for critical operations. Headquartered in France with strong international presence.