# Tactically Superior Drones The 'Tern' Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Gives the Military Tactical Gains By Rahul Kalvapalle | Published 2016-01-21 | Autos Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/Tern-unmanned-aerial-vehicle References: [davidszondy.blogspot](http://davidszondy.blogspot.ca/2015/12/northrop-grumman-set-to-develop-tail.html) & [darpa.mil](http://www.darpa.mil/program/tactically-exploited-reconnaissance-node) The Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node Unmanned Aerial Vehicle -- Tern UAV for short -- is an aerial vehicle, designed by Northrop Grumman, that is capable of taking off vertically with its tail oriented downwards. This UAV is designed specifically to work from the decks of [smaller ships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sonobuoy-dispensing-system) that lack aircraft carrier-style runways. The Tern UAV is the result of a collaboration between [DARPA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crane-program) and the US Navy Office of Naval Research, who set out to create something that offered a much-needed evolution over the limited capacities of previous UAVs in terms of either versatility or take-off convenience. Ultimately, the big advantage of the Tern UAV will be that it will give the American military the ability to launch [aerial vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/star-walkers) from compact ships without having to rely on large aircraft carriers from which to carry out war operations. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.9/10 - Popularity: 71% | Activity: 67% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Autos](https://www.trendhunter.com/autos) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Vertical Take-off Drones:** The Tern UAV's vertical take-off capability opens up new possibilities for compact ships to launch aerial vehicles. - **Ship-based Aerial Operations:** The Tern UAV enables the American military to conduct war operations from smaller ships instead of relying solely on large aircraft carriers. - **Enhanced UAV Versatility:** The Tern UAV offers a much-needed evolution in UAV capabilities, providing greater versatility for military operations. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Military Technology:** The Tern UAV is a disruptive innovation opportunity for companies in the military technology industry. - **Aerospace:** The aerospace industry can tap into the trend of vertical take-off drones by developing new aircraft designs and technologies. - **Maritime Defense:** The Tern UAV presents an innovation opportunity for companies in the maritime defense sector to enhance ship-based aerial capabilities. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Amphibious VTOL Drones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/amphibious-vtol-drones.md) - [VTOL-Supporting Drone Systems](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drone-systems.md) - [Missile-Firing Unmanned Drones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/missilefiring-unmanned-drone.md) - [Endurant Combat Drones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/endurant-combat-drone.md) - [Flying Aquatic Maintenance Drones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seaair-integrated-drone.md) - [Autonomous Cargo Drones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cargo-drones.md) - [AI Travel Planners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/travel-planners.md) - [Rugged Unmanned Ground Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unmanned-ground-vehicle.md) - [Autonomous Cargo Gliders](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cargo-glider.md)