Drone Maker Pairs C100 With Ditto Network Software
Performance Drone Works will integrate Ditto's Propagate networking software into its C100 small uncrewed aircraft system.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Data Centers
Performance Drone Works has partnered with Ditto to integrate Propagate networking software into the C100 drone system. Propagate runs as an application on standard Android phones and tablets and lets devices move data over multiple tactical radio connections without operating system modifications.
Why it matters
The integration is intended to reduce reliance on expensive, custom-built devices used to route battlefield intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data. It reflects growing demand for portable networking that can connect mobile ad hoc networks and satellite links in the field.
Propagate runs on standard Android phones and tablets and can move video, telemetry, and command-and-control information across multiple tactical radio links without operating system changes. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, and the scope of fielding timelines remains unspecified.
The players
Performance Drone Works (PDW)
Performance Drone Works is a drone manufacturer based in Huntsville, Alabama, that builds the C100 system and operates a 90,000-square-foot facility in the city's Research Park.
Ditto
Ditto is a software company that developed Propagate, an application-based networking platform designed to link tactical radios, mobile ad hoc networks, and satellite communications.
The details
Propagate was demonstrated by Ditto during U.S. Army technical exercises and is now being built into the C100, a portable, modular drone used for reconnaissance, communications relay, spectrum awareness, and military support. The C100 is deployed across U.S. military commands in the Indo-Pacific, Europe, and the Middle East.
Timeline
November 5: Performance Drone Works and Ditto announce the partnership.
October: Performance Drone Works announces a partnership with Ukrainian defense technology companies.
August: Performance Drone Works receives a conditional federal loan commitment of up to $820 million.
The Tech Race
The integration places commercial Android-based networking in direct competition with custom tactical radio gear that has long dominated battlefield communications. It extends a broader shift toward low-cost, software-defined links for small uncrewed aircraft in Indo-Pacific, European, and Middle Eastern deployments.
For readers, the integration means drone operators may be able to link video, telemetry, and command data using standard Android hardware rather than specialized equipment. Pricing and availability for the software beyond the announced partnership were not disclosed.
The takeaway
Commercial networking software on everyday devices is narrowing the gap between consumer technology and military communications. Watch for how it performs in fielded exercises.
Further reading
Explore more Data Centers coverage for Huntsville readers tracking the region's tech infrastructure.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 256 Today.
