Red Cat Holdings, Inc., a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government and commercial operations, has announced Tough Stump Technologies as its primary training provider for customers including the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

Tough Stump, a situational awareness systems company, will also consult on ATAK app integration for Red Cat systems, and on testing and evaluation of new product capabilities.

In addition, Red Cat will support Tough Stump in further expanding the Tough Stump Rodeo, an innovative trade show and conference where mission-technology solutions are demonstrated in the field, instead of a convention center. 

“Tough Stump is a trusted partner for Red Cat because it’s a veteran-owned business with more than 150 years of combined experience across all branches of the U.S. military,” said George Matus, CEO of Red Cat subsidiary Teal Drones.

“Red Cat’s new military-grade drone, the Teal 2, is the smartest choice for sUAS missions, and Tough Stump has the testing and training expertise to prepare our customers for mission success.”

DoD-approved as Blue UAS and now available to purchase through the U.S. government’s GSA Advantage website, the Teal 2 is designed to be the world’s leading sUAS for night operations.

The Teal 2 is the first sUAS to be equipped with Teledyne FLIR’s new Hadron 640R sensor, providing end users with the highest resolution thermal imaging in a small form factor. The Teal 2 also offers the latest intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technology. 

At the 2023 Tough Stump Rodeo, held in remote Montana in June, Tough Stump worked with Red Cat to integrate the Teal 2 into the ATAK app, command and control the drone using the UAS Tool within ATAK, and disseminate intelligence test data to 12 countries around the world.

The Tough Stump Rodeo is designed for military and government professionals seeking technology solutions to increase mission effectiveness while improving the safety of personnel.

The event’s location, near Alder, Montana, simulates challenging mission environments over a 40-mile area, and has limited internet access, which provides opportunities for testing radio communication systems.

“Tough Stump Rodeo is a first-of-its-kind trade show where solutions are stress-tested in real-world conditions and there are no salespeople because the technology has to sell itself,” said Tough Stump Co-Founder and COO Ben Brown.

“Attendees tell us the rodeo sets the standard for what a trade show should be, and Tough Stump looks forward to working with Red Cat to continue growing the event in 2024.