PDW Validates Extended Range Autonomous Navigation in Texas Flight Trials

Performance Drone Works (PDW) has concluded a comprehensive flight test series involving 114 sorties to validate the long-range, autonomous, and software capabilities of its unmanned systems.

The evaluations, conducted over three days at the 9 Mile Training Center in Texas, utilized a cross-functional team to test hardware and communication resilience under operational conditions. These trials focused on the C100 and AM-FPV platforms, specifically targeting Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) performance and command-and-control stability.

During the series, the C100 platform utilized a Range Extension Kit and Extended Range Antenna to maintain secure control at distances reaching 20 kilometers. Simultaneously, the AM-FPV system demonstrated BVLOS operations exceeding 10 kilometers by employing a Doodle Labs mesh network with relay support.

PDW CEO James Slider, commented, “Range defines who sets the terms of the fight and control from a distance is tactical leverage. By extending operational reach without compromising connectivity, PDW ensures operators retaining full authority over mission execution in dynamic environments.

“PDW is committed to supporting U.S. DoW readiness by delivering resilient, long-range, and autonomous unmanned systems to our front-line operators. Our top priority has and will continue to be advancing mission-ready systems designed to operate when and where they are needed most.”

Technical validation also extended to the PDW Vision Payload (PVP) and CORE 1.4 software. The C100, equipped with the PVP, successfully completed 11 fully autonomous flights without the use of GPS for navigation. This visual navigation capability allowed the aircraft to maintain stable vehicle control in GPS-denied environments, addressing emerging requirements from the Department of Warfare (DoW) and other customers.

The CORE 1.4 software integration was monitored across the 114-flight campaign to confirm system stability and flight performance enhancements. The results indicated consistent reliability across repeated sorties, marking an advancement in the system’s readiness for deployment in demanding modern battlefields where front-line operators depend on resilient robotics.

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