Linden Photonics specializes in designing and manufacturing advanced fiber optic and hybrid electro-optical cables, focusing on lightweight, high-strength solutions for demanding environments such as underwater, space, and defense applications.

Linden Photonics Hybrid Tether

One of its main product offerings is drone tether cables, enabling aerial drones to have extended flight times by providing continuous power and secure communication. 

Linden services military, commercial, and industrial clients, addressing needs in surveillance, communications, and inspections.

Providing uninterrupted drone operation

Linden’s drone tether cables solve a major challenge in drone operations: battery life limitations. Traditional drones rely on batteries, which restrict flight duration. Tethered drones, powered by Linden’s hybrid cables, can remain airborne indefinitely, making them ideal for applications requiring long-term operation.

These tethers connect drones to ground stations, supplying power through lightweight conductors and transmitting high-speed, interference-free data via fiber optics.

This is particularly beneficial in military, border security, and surveillance applications, where secure, uninterrupted operation is essential.

Industries and applications that benefit from tethered drones over battery-powered alternatives include:

  • Public Safety & Law Enforcement – Extended aerial surveillance for crowd monitoring and emergency response.
  • Military & Defense – Long-duration intelligence, reconnaissance, and communication relays.
  • Border Security – Persistent surveillance along national borders.
  • Telecommunications – Temporary airborne communication towers in remote locations.
  • Broadcasting & Events – Live aerial coverage for sports, concerts, and major events.
  • Industrial Inspections – Continuous monitoring of pipelines, power lines, and wind farms.

These sectors rely on drones for real-time data transmission and aerial persistence, both of which Linden’s tether cables enable.

One system that uses Linden’s hybrid tether in a kite-based aerostat for extended aerial surveillance is Airborne Industries aerostat, DARPA’s TALONS Program, and Sandia National Labs. The system is designed for intelligence gathering and communications.

Weight of Wire (lbs/1,000 ft)

Tether customization

There are a few ways that Linden Photonics customizes cables:

  • Weight Optimization – By choosing lightweight and low-density materials, drone lift requirements are reduced, increasing payload capacity (figure 2).
  • Strength & Durability – Reinforced Kevlar or synthetic strength members enhance tether reliability in harsh conditions and allow for lifting capabilities.
  • Power Efficiency – Custom conductor sizing minimizes voltage drop, ensuring efficient power delivery.
  • Jacketing Options – Extruded or braided jackets provide protection against abrasion, moisture, and mechanical stress. Generally, braided jackets have a lighter weight, but extruded jackets are better for protection (figure 3).

Application examples

Zenith Aerospace used a Linden tether to fly a quadcopter continuously for 100 hours.  The intended use of this platform is fire detection.  By getting cameras and infrared detectors high in the sky, large areas can be monitored.  Another customer used a Linden Aerostat tether for 6 months continuously in a harsh desert environment. Currently, Linden Photonics supplies fiber optic and hybrid cables exclusively, but the company is working on other tether management systems to be introduced later this year.