Sustained over-the-horizon vertical takeoff and landing sensing system

A sensing and detection system comprising:

• a movable tether station;
• a continuous power source stored within or near the tether station;
• a cable wound around a reel mounted to a portion of the tether station, the cable being movable between a retracted, wound position and an extended, unwound position;
• and
• an electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing aircraft having a detection system coupled to an autonomous flight control system such that the vertical takeoff and landing aircraft is configured to continuously hover above a portion of the tether station in a relative position as the tether station moves, wherein a first end of the cable is connected to the continuous power source and the second end of the cable is coupled to the flight control system such that power is continually supplied thereto.