France’s leading tethered drone manufacturer Elistair has once again taken center stage at Milipol 2025 in Paris, unveiling its groundbreaking Khronos Dual Payload system. By fusing real-time intelligence gathering with seamless communication relay, this innovation ushers in a new era of aerial tactical support, redefining what’s possible on the modern battlefield.
Khronos Dual Payload: A Unified Solution for ISR and Communications
At the heart of this unveiling lies a key strategic advancement: the integration of a Silvus StreamCaster 4200P tactical radio and a Nextvision DragonEye2 electro-optical (EO) camera into the Khronos platform. This dual payload transforms the drone into a multi-role tactical asset, capable of providing persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) while also functioning as a secure communication relay.
This dual-capability design reflects the increasing operational demand for consolidated solutions. In today’s fluid and contested theaters, ground teams require a single tool that does not compromise between visual reconnaissance and robust data link extension. Khronos delivers both—without compromise.
Tactical Design with Strategic Reach
Elistair’s Khronos Dual Payload is purpose-built to perform as a Variable Height Antenna (VHA), significantly extending the reach and stability of tactical mesh networks. Whether deployed in mountainous terrain, dense urban environments, or GPS-denied zones, this tethered drone maintains uninterrupted signal integrity—a critical advantage where conventional communications often fail. The operational envelope of Khronos remains a key highlight:
- Tethered flight endurance: Up to 24 continuous hours
- Operational altitude: Maximum height of 60 meters
Such long-duration overwatch provides unprecedented aerial persistence. For special forces or rapid deployment units, this means hours of uninterrupted communication or surveillance, eliminating the need for frequent battery changes or risky recovery cycles.
Silvus StreamCaster 4200P: Backbone of Tactical Connectivity
The integration of the Silvus StreamCaster 4200P brings battle-hardened tactical radio capabilities into the air. Known for its high data throughput, MIMO architecture, and ability to operate in challenging RF environments, this tactical radio ensures that the Khronos drone becomes an aerial node within an advanced mesh network.
Key performance benefits include:
- Robust IP networking in contested RF environments
- Seamless data, voice, and video transmission
- Enhanced low-latency communication at the tactical edge
Through the StreamCaster 4200P, Khronos acts not just as a visual intelligence tool, but a critical digital backbone for units requiring multi-node, encrypted, real-time communication.
Nextvision DragonEye2 EO Camera: Crystal Clear Tactical ISR
Paired with the Silvus system is the Nextvision DragonEye2, a next-generation EO sensor that empowers operators with day/night imaging capability, high zoom optics, and stabilized full-HD video feeds. It allows teams to gather intelligence discreetly and efficiently.
Features include:
- Full-HD daylight and low-light imagery
- Advanced zoom functionality
- Onboard video stabilization
With DragonEye2 onboard, the Khronos provides persistent ISR suitable for target tracking, perimeter surveillance, convoy overwatch, and more. Importantly, this level of image fidelity ensures that field units can make data-driven decisions with confidence, without latency or distortion.
Adapted for Modern Warfare and Rapid Deployment
Elistair clearly developed the Dual Payload Khronos with real-world combat conditions in mind. Whether used in urban warfare, peacekeeping missions, or border monitoring, this platform supports operational agility while offering a plug-and-play deployment experience.
From an operational standpoint, Khronos is:
- Ruggedized for harsh environments
- Man-portable and rapidly deployable in under 10 minutes
- Operator-friendly, requiring minimal training
This makes it an ideal fit not only for special operations forces, but also for law enforcement agencies, disaster response teams, and civil defense units that rely on uninterrupted aerial visibility and connectivity.
Persistent Surveillance in Complex Scenarios
With a 24-hour tethered endurance, Khronos eliminates the most common limitation of drone systems: flight time. Tethered power means the system can stay aloft as long as needed, maintaining situational awareness over:
- Hostage rescue sites
- Urban anti-terror operations
- Disaster zones
- Border security patrols
This continuous airborne presence gives commanders not only better data but also time—the rarest commodity in crisis situations.
A Response to Evolving Tactical Demands
The evolution toward integrated platforms is not accidental—it reflects the changing face of conflict, where multi-domain operations and network-centric warfare are the norm. Elistair’s decision to embed both ISR and communications into Khronos responds to a growing demand for self-contained, multi-role systems.
Key operational scenarios addressed include:
- Special Forces operations, where every second counts and stealth is vital
- Electronic warfare conditions, where jamming and GPS spoofing are commonplace
- Conventional military deployments, demanding interoperability and scalability
By offering aerial support that’s both smart and enduring, Khronos Dual Payload bridges the gap between strategic command and tactical reality.
Driving Tactical Transformation with Embedded Intelligence
In a time when battlefield transparency and information dominance are key, the Khronos Dual Payload does more than offer eyes in the sky. It becomes a node of digital superiority, helping operators anticipate threats, maintain coordination, and control the tempo of operations.
Where other drone systems specialize in either ISR or communication relay, Elistair’s Khronos delivers both—packaged in a compact, durable, and easy-to-operate system. This dual capability will likely set the standard for future aerial platforms aiming to serve modern tactical demands.
Conclusion: A Strategic Leap in Tactical Capability
With the launch of the Khronos Dual Payload at Milipol 2025, Elistair has sent a clear message to military and security professionals: the future of aerial support lies in multi-role, persistent, and network-integrated platforms. This tethered drone system is more than a technological marvel—it’s a force multiplier, enabling frontline teams to gain and sustain operational dominance in complex environments.
As geopolitical threats become more asymmetric and the lines between communication, surveillance, and combat blur, innovations like Khronos will be central to tactical superiority. With this release, Elistair doesn’t just follow the evolution of modern warfare—it helps define it.
