Silent by Design: Knightwerx Recognized for Low Acoustic Detectability at T-REX 25-2

At Knightwerx, we believe that impact starts before contact. For small, unmanned aircraft operating in contested environments, the ability to arrive quietly, loiter without drawing attention, and execute a mission without being detected can be just as important as speed, range, or payload. That principle was reinforced at last August at T-REX 25-2. Technology Readiness Experimentations, known as T-REX, are recurring events hosted by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. For Knightwerx, being invited to T-REX 25-2 was significant because the event brought together military leaders, industry partners, allied representatives, and operational evaluators to assess emerging defense technologies under realistic conditions.

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Silent by Design: Knightwerx Recognized for Low Acoustic Detectability at T-REX 25-2

That principle was reinforced at last August at T-REX 25-2. Technology Readiness Experimentations, known as T-REX, are recurring events hosted by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. For Knightwerx, being invited to T-REX 25-2 was significant because the event brought together military leaders, industry partners, allied representatives, and operational evaluators to assess emerging defense technologies under realistic conditions.

During the event, Sandman was assessed in a live environment that included acoustic sensing designed to measure how far away unmanned aircraft could be detected. The assessment used an acoustic sensor system to listen for participating drones and evaluate their “range of detectability.” In practical terms, the system measured how close each aircraft could get before its acoustic signature was detected.

Sandman earned the lowest range score, meaning it got closest to the acoustic sensor before being detected.

For operators, that matters.

Small UAS are increasingly expected to operate forward, close to the point of need, and in environments where adversaries are actively listening, watching, adapting, and countering. A drone that is loud, visually obvious, or easy to detect may provide capability, but it also creates risk. It can alert an adversary, compromise a team’s position, or reduce the time available to collect intelligence, deliver an effect, or reposition.

Sandman was built around a different philosophy: a compact, mission-flexible system that gives frontline operators more options without creating unnecessary signatures. Low acoustic detectability is not a standalone feature - it is part of a broader design approach that includes size, weight, flight profile, modularity, and tactical relevance.

TREX 25-2 provided an important opportunity to evaluate that approach in front of serious users and technical assessors. While laboratory performance matters, operational environments reveal whether a system is useful, usable, and survivable under realistic constraints.

We are proud that Sandman performed strongly in that environment, and we are especially proud that its acoustic profile was recognized in a way that directly relates to operator survivability.

For Knightwerx, the takeaway is simple: silent matters. Detectability matters. And the future of tactical unmanned systems will belong to platforms designed not only to fly, but to survive.