Horizon is the first affordable, multi-network radio for unmanned operations, delivering LOS/BLOS command, control, and telemetry in contested environments

Somewear Labs, which enables critical communications for the world’s most important organizations through its software-defined network, today announced the release of Horizon, a multi-network radio purpose-built for long-range and attritable unmanned mission profiles.

With Horizon, Somewear extends its edge networking position into the unmanned ecosystem, solving one of the hardest operational problems in modern autonomy: keeping unmanned systems controllable and mission-relevant when line-of-sight (LOS) breaks.

For operators, Horizon ensures unmanned systems are connected farther and longer, automatically transitioning from LOS to satellite connectivity during link degradation. This capability preserves command continuity and enables mission plan updates, waypoint control, and flight mode changes beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS).

For OEMs supporting the Pentagon’s UxS priorities, Horizon offers an integration-ready, scalable solution that can accelerate deployment of resilient BLOS capability without forcing a redesign of the rest of the C2, Ground Control Station (GCS) and autonomy stack.

For the Department of War (DoW), it offers an affordable and scalable solution to field more survivable unmanned systems in support of priority missions across one-way attack, tactical reconnaissance, distributed operations, and autonomous system employment at the edge.

“As new unmanned systems like LUCAS deploy in support of Operation Epic Fury, and the Pentagon’s Drone Dominance initiative accelerates production to hundreds of thousands of attritable systems, innovation in UAS is surging. Yet most platforms still rely on legacy line-of-sight communications designed for past conflicts. We’re changing that,” said James Kubik, Somewear Labs’ CEO and Co-Founder. “For the first time, operators and OEMs have an affordable, integrated LOS and BLOS solution purpose-built to enhance survivability in the modern fight.”

Key benefits of Horizon include:

• Ensure mission continuity in contested environments. Horizon automatically transitions from LOS to BLOS for uninterrupted command and control.
• BLOS Command & Control. Send and receive mission-critical data over SATCOM: telemetry, mission plan updates, flight mode changes, and waypoint control.
• Rapid integration, standards-based (e.g. MAVLink) compatibility. Horizon is designed for rapid integration without redesigning the platform or control stack. No specialized firmware rewrites or custom protocols required, reducing risk and accelerating deployment timelines.
• Maximize situational awareness, from the edge to command. Automatically route UxS telemetry and mission data into TAK and other mission systems via API-driven integrations.
• Manage RF signature. Rapidly configure Horizon to LOS-only or BLOS-only to match posture to the mission phase and threat environment.
• Low SWaP-C, built to scale. A compact, affordable form factor, helping OEMs integrate at volume and enabling defense programs to field BLOS capability at scale.

Source: BUSINESS WIRE