Transforming Military UAV Operations: The New CONOPS in NLOS -Powered Drones

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Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or drone operations in the military and defense sectors are undergoing a significant transformation. Traditionally, these sectors have relied on field-based control and visual line of sight (VLOS) operations. However, non-visual-line-of-sight (NLOS) (known as Beyond the Visual Line-of-Sight or BVLOS in the commercial arena) in the technologies are ushering in a new era, redefining the concept of operations (CONOPS) for deploying and utilizing unmanned systems.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the NLOS current prevalent CONOPS in military UAV operations, delve into the emerging model of NLOS operations, and examine how this new approach is reshaping the military and defense sectors.

Understanding the Current Prevalent CONOPS in Military UAV Operations

The existing military CONOPS (concept of operations) for UAV operations typically involves direct, field-based control by human operators. These UAVs, often used for surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeted strikes, are controlled by pilots positioned within close proximity to the drone, usually within visual line of sight (VLOS) or extended visual line of sight (EVLOS) conditions. This traditional approach has several inherent limitations, including restricted operational range, increased risk to personnel, and limited flexibility in responding to dynamic battlefield conditions.

Key characteristics of the current military UAV CONOPS include:

• Line of Sight (LOS) Operations where UAV pilots maintain direct visual contact with the drone. UAVs and their operators are often positioned in the field, close to the area of operation, for quick deployment and real-time decision-making. 
• Single operator-single UAV, where a dedicated operator controls each UAV to ensure focused attention on individual mission objectives.
• Limited range operations due to LOS constraints and the need for nearby control stations, typically covering areas within a few kilometers of the control point.
• Specific, pre-planned mission profiles such as reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition.
• Tactical-level design and operation to support ground troops or provide localized intelligence.

While the current military UAV CONOPS has proven effective for many applications, it also underscores the need for more flexible, far-reaching, and efficient UAV operations as technological capabilities and operational requirements evolve. 

The rapidly evolving technological landscape and shifting operational demands necessitate more adaptable, extensive, and efficient UAV operations.

The Shift to NLOS Operations

NLOS operations have become a cornerstone of advanced UAV deployments in the commercial sector. NLOS is not merely about extending the range of drone flights; it represents a fundamental shift in UAV management and utilization. 

At the heart of the new NLOS CONOPS (concept of operations) is the premise of centralized, remote operation and multi-drone management across vast distances. This approach significantly departs from traditional field-based UAV operations in the military sector. It involves controlling multiple UAVs from a centralized command center, potentially located anywhere in the world. Instead of field-deployed pilots, UAVs are operated across vast distances from sophisticated control centers equipped with advanced communication and specialized equipment. Operators can manage fleets of drones simultaneously, coordinating their actions for complex, multi-faceted missions and rapidly reallocating them based on changing mission priorities or emerging threats. Data from multiple drones and other sources can be fused in real-time, providing comprehensive situational awareness.

The ability to remotely manage multiple drones simultaneously from a single control point introduces a new level of scalability and operational efficiency previously unattainable.

Adoption of Commercial Solutions in Modern Warfare

The integration of commercial technologies into modern warfare is reshaping UAV utilization and the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) within the military and defense industry. The Internet of Battlefields (IoB) has traditionally relied on highly specialized, secure military-grade radios engineered for the most challenging scenarios. While these sophisticated systems are essential for specific missions, their complexity and sensitivity can sometimes be overkill for other missions and often lead to underutilization to preserve strategic advantages.

Commercial radios, on the other hand, offer a practical and versatile alternative, delivering sufficient performance for many battlefield operations without the risk of compromising classified technologies. Commercial communication systems, for instance, excel in urban environments where rapid deployment and reliable connectivity are essential. Despite their limitations, commercial systems adaptability makes them ideal for specific scenarios in modern warfare.

The defense industry, which typically follows lengthy development cycles, increasingly acknowledges commercial technologies’ benefits.  The readily available and cost-effective commercial solutions are understandably gaining traction within the defense industry. By leveraging commercial solutions, the defense industry can respond to threats with the necessary speed, agility, and efficiency.

The new CONOPS of UAV management opens possibilities for military and defense applications. It allows for more complex, coordinated operations that adapt quickly to changing situations. Moreover, it enables the efficient use of specialized operator skills across multiple missions and geographical areas.

The new CONOPS of UAV management opens possibilities for military and defense applications. It allows for more complex, coordinated operations that adapt quickly to changing situations. Moreover, it enables the efficient use of specialized operator skills across multiple missions and geographical areas.

The New Concept of Operation: From Remote Control to Control Center

The shift towards a new CONOPS for NLOS -powered drones in military and defense is an evolution of existing practices and a fundamental transformation. This shift introduces new elements and possibilities that enhance unmanned systems’ utilization in complex and harsh environments.

Expanded Operational Range and Persistance 

NLOS operations dramatically increase the operational range of UAVs, allowing them to cover vast areas and penetrate deep into previously inaccessible territories. The persistence of UAVs in the field is significantly enhanced, as NLOS drones can operate continuously over extended periods, thanks to advanced battery technologies and communication solutions.

Enhanced Situational Awareness and Decision-Making 

NLOS operations introduce enhanced situational awareness for military commanders. With centralized control centers, commanders can oversee multiple drones across different operation zones simultaneously, enabling better-informed decision-making. The integration of AI and machine learning algorithms further augments this capability, allowing for predictive analytics and decision support.

Reduced Risk to Personnel 

The new NLOS CONOPS mitigates the risk to personnel by enabling remote operations from secure, often undisclosed locations far from the conflict zone. This approach not only protects highly trained personnel but also allows for the retention of valuable human capital, as operators can cycle through missions without the need for physical deployment.

Scalability and Flexibility 

The NLOS CONOPS model supports the operation of multiple drones simultaneously from a single control center, scaling up the impact of UAV deployments. The flexible deployment model allows for quick re-tasking and redeployment of drones in response to changing conditions and mission requirements without relocating ground pilots. 

Interoperability and Integration with Other Systems 

The new NLOS CONOPS enhances interoperability and integration with other military systems. NLOS-powered drone data can be integrated into broader command and control networks, sharing information and receiving instructions in real-time. This interoperability extends to manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operations to enhance mission effectiveness through greater situational awareness and decision-making capabilities.

The transition to BVLOS-powered drones and a new CONOPS is a game changer for the defense sector, significantly enhancing operational capabilities while maintaining safety in complex and harsh environments.

Elsight Halo: Enabling the New BVLOS CONOPS in Military Drone Operations

Elsight’s Halo NLOS connectivity platform has emerged as a key enabler for the new CONOPS in both commercial and defense sectors. Halo is an innovative multilink communication solution engineered for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) drone missions. Halo fuses multiple communication channels into a robust connectivity pipeline, ensuring uninterrupted and secure drone transmission and control even in the most challenging and unpredictable environments. The ability to maintain stable connections in various environments allows for more diverse and adaptable mission profiles, which are crucial in military applications. Key Features of Elsight Halo:

• Multilink technology aggregates multiple communication links —cellular, satellite, private networks, and more—into a single, virtual connection, effectively bridging communication gaps and ensuring continuous and redundant connectivity. 
• Built-in redundancy through AI-powered, seamless network transitions allows for smooth handoffs between the different networks and maintains constant drone connectivity and optimal performance even in challenging environments. 
• Low-latency communication is essential for real-time control and rapid data transmission in military and emergency response scenarios.
• Cybersecure operation, through advanced encryption and packet splitting, addresses the critical need for data protection in sensitive military and commercial operations.
• Its compact and lightweight design makes Halo ideal for integration into a wide range of drone platforms without impacting flight performance or endurance.

Halo’s utilization of multiple network types and seamless handoffs enables global operations and ensures UAV control from virtually any location worldwide, perfectly aligning with the new CONOPS of operating UAVs from centralized command centers far from the conflict zones.

Contact us to power your military drones with Elsight’s Halo multilink NLOS connectivity and CONOPS. 

Key Takeaways

• Military and defense sectors are undergoing a significant shift in UAV operations from traditional field-based and Visual Line of Sight (VLOS) operations to Non Line of Sight (NLOS) capabilities. 
• The prevalent CONOPS in military UAV operations involves direct, field-based control with limited range and flexibility, constrained by limited range and increased risk to personnel.
• NLOS operations represent a fundamental shift in UAV management with centralized control centers for managing multiple drones across vast distances. 
• The NLOS revolution is redefining the Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for how UAVs are deployed and utilized, leading to more flexible, far-reaching, and efficient operations.
• Commercial solutions offer practical alternatives to highly specialized military-grade systems, particularly in urban environments where rapid deployment and reliable connectivity are crucial. 
• Integrating commercial technologies, such as NLOS communication systems, reshapes military CONOPS. These technologies introduce greater operational range and persistence, reduced risk to personnel, scalability and flexibility, and integration with broader command and control networks.
• Elsight’s Halo multilink communication platform is a crucial enabler of the new NLOS connectivity and CONOPS. Halo ensures uninterrupted, secure, global drone connectivity, even in challenging environments. 

FAQs

1. What is the difference between VLOS, EVLOS, and NLOS/BVLOS operations?

VLOS (Visual Line of Sight) requires the operator to maintain direct visual contact with the drone at all times. EVLOS (Extended Visual Line of Sight) extends range using visual observers positioned along the flight path. NLOS/BVLOS (Non or Beyond Visual Line of Sight) enables operations beyond the operator’s direct line of sight using reliable command and control communications, telemetry, and video links. BVLOS operations significantly expand operational range, mission flexibility, and scalability for military and autonomous drone missions.

2. What range, latency, and throughput can Elsight Halo deliver in contested or urban environments?

Halo’s performance depends on available networks, terrain, electromagnetic conditions, and mission requirements. The platform aggregates LTE, 5G, SATCOM, and other available links into a single, resilient communication layer to maintain operational continuity when single network solutions may fail. Halo dynamically reroutes traffic through the best available links and prioritizes sensitive traffic using pre-defined quality of service (QoS) policies, enabling low latency command and control alongside high bandwidth video and telemetry transmission, even in dense urban or contested environments.

3. How does Halo ensure cybersecurity and protect sensitive data ?

Halo uses AES-256-CBC encryption, VPN tunneling, and packet-level distribution across multiple communication links to improve resilience against interception, jamming, and network failures. By splitting and dynamically routing traffic across separate networks, Halo reduces single point vulnerabilities while maintaining secure and continuous command and control communications. Halo was also added to the U.S. Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Blue UAS Cleared List following rigorous testing, validating its secure and resilient BVLOS communication capabilities for defense operations.

How does NLOS connectivity change military drone CONOPS compared to traditional UAV operations?

NLOS connectivity fundamentally expands military drone CONOPS by enabling UAVs and autonomous systems to operate far beyond the operator’s visual range and across complex terrain, urban environments, and contested areas. Unlike traditional VLOS operations that rely on proximity and direct line of sight, NLOS enabled operations support centralized remote control, multi-drone coordination, persistent ISR, long range logistics, and distributed autonomous missions.

5. What are the regulatory, certification, and deployment considerations for adopting BVLOS/NLOS solutions in military operations?

Military BVLOS/NLOS deployments must address spectrum management, cybersecurity, airspace coordination, mission safety, and resilient command and control in contested environments. Even when military operations operate under separate authorities, interoperability with evolving BVLOS standards, UTM frameworks, and airspace deconfliction processes remains important for joint, allied, and dual-use missions. Elsight’s Halo was selected for DIU Project G.I. and included on the DCMA Blue UAS Cleared List, confirming that the platform is certification and deployment ready for procurement and deployment pathways for U.S. defense operations.