Event 38 Unmanned Systems recently wrapped up a live operational demo in Alaska, where the company’s E455 VTOL fixed-wing drone supported a U.S. Army training exercise in extreme winter conditions. The flight event showcased the aircraft’s ability to deliver real-time video, extend communications, and plug directly into TAK-enabled workflows used by soldiers in the field.

The exercise placed teams in a remote, rugged environment with a defended stronghold as the objective. In the scenario, the “Blue Team” conducted a parachute insertion from a C-130 into an undisclosed location and began moving toward the target area. After the jump was complete and the airspace was cleared, Event 38 launched the E455 to provide persistent overwatch around the perimeter.

Our E455 Drone was tracking Blue Team’s movement within minutes of takeoff. The E455 streamed live multicast video which was complete with embedded GPS metadata through onboard Silvus networking hardware. The feed was distributed to multiple users at once, including WinTAK devices inside the Tactical Operations Center, soldiers’ mobile devices at the stronghold, and mortar fire positions.

ATAK also displayed the UAS position and gimbal crosshair target coordinates, helping speed up fire mission processing while improving situational awareness across the network.

To push communications even farther, Event 38 added an additional TSM radio inside the aircraft alongside the Silvus radio. This configuration expanded range on the Army’s TSM network while maintaining connectivity on the Silvus network.

Alaska’s weather did its best to make things difficult. The E455 operated through night flights, snow, humidity, and icing conditions in temperatures down to –4°F. Despite the environment, the system maintained stable performance and reliable delivery of sensor data throughout the exercise.

The aircraft flew with a NextVision Raptor payload, providing both EO and thermal imaging. That combination allowed operators to track targets in low visibility and challenging terrain.

“Operating alongside the Army was an eye-opening demonstration of just how impactful our technology can be on the modern battlefield,” said Mat Wright, Event 38’s Vice President of Engineering and Operations. “Beyond employing the aircraft as an offensive capability, we were able to expose soldiers to the kinds of systems they may face in future conflicts—helping them better prepare for what’s coming. As a smaller company, we often see large-scale demonstrations conducted by organizations like Anduril and Edge Autonomy and know we’re capable of meeting those same challenges. This effort marked a meaningful step in that direction, carried out in one of the most challenging environments in the world.”

For Event 38, the Alaska demo reinforced what the E455 is built for: rapid deployment, modular payload integration, long-range connectivity, and dependable ISR in tough operating conditions.