Rafael Shows Microlite WAPS Payload with Enhanced Capabilities at SOFWEEK 2025

Rafael Advanced Defence Systems announced a collaboration with Sky Sapience at SOFWEEK 2025, where Rafael’s Microlite unique Wide Area Persistent Surveillance (WAPS) payload will be featured with enhanced capabilities on Sky Sapience’s HoverMast platforms. This cooperation highlights the Microlite’s advanced features, offering real-time wide area battlefield monitoring, tactical intelligence gathering, and battlefield ISR, all amplified by the integration with Sky Sapience’s Tethered Aerial Infrastructure. The Microlite, developed by Rafael, serves as a versatile tool for wide-area persistent surveillance and monitoring, allowing forces in real time tactical situational awareness for force protection missions as well in supporting ground manoeuvring elements with greater accuracy. It provides real-time intelligence, enabling forces to monitor large areas, gather critical data, and strategize effectively for mission execution. By integrating with Sky Sapience’s HoverMast platforms, the Microlite enhances its operational flexibility, making it an invaluable tethered asset for real time tactical intelligence collection in land, sea, and urban environments. The integration highlights how the Microlite’s capabilities can be expanded, supporting various mission scenarios with precision and reliability. Another key feature of this collaboration is seamless integration of the tethered Microlite WAPS payload with an adjacent Controp’s payload used for NFOV investigation. If the Microlite detects and tracks a target, the system can automatically hand off the target to Controp’s sensor for further investigation. This automatic handover ensures a smooth transition of tasks, allowing forces to prioritise critical targets and improve operational efficiency during missions. Sky Sapience’s HoverMast platforms are designed to be rugged, mobile, and fully autonomous. These systems can reach altitudes of up to 700 metres (2,300 ft) and carry payloads of up to 10 kg, making them ideal for deployment in GPS-denied zones or electronic warfare environments. With an IP-65 rating for environmental protection, the HoverMast platforms are built to withstand harsh conditions and are well-suited for complex operational scenarios. CEO of Sky Sapience, Yahav Regev said, “For years, the tethered drone market has stood still—we are here to change that. We have taken the best of masts, aerostats, and drones and engineered a single, rugged, and mobile solution. Sky Sapience brings a fresh engineering mindset, deep operational understanding, and a strong network of partners. I believe our systems will fundamentally shift how forces operate at height—whether at the border or deep in the field. Our valued collaboration with RAFAEL further strengthens this vision, combining world-class defence expertise with disruptive aerial capabilities.” Rafael USA vice president Gal Papier added, “We are thrilled to take part in SOFWEEK 2025 & present among other capabilities this application of our unique Microlite WAPS payload integrated with Sky Sapience’s HoverMast platforms. Microlite is a game changing system with capabilities that strengthen operational effectiveness. This application can serve as a force multiplier for military units like SOCOM Operational detachments (ODAs) allowing them on demand real-time tactical wide area ISR for expeditionary organic force protection capabilities.”