A method is provided for sending data in a mobile ad-hoc network including a plurality of nodes and a plurality of wireless links connecting the plurality of nodes. The method may include grouping the plurality of nodes into clusters of nodes and designating a cluster leader node for each cluster. Furthermore, a cluster-level route request may be sent from a source node of a source cluster to a cluster leader node of the source cluster. The method may also include determining a cluster-level route between the source cluster and a destination cluster comprising a destination node responsive to the cluster-level route request and using a plurality of the cluster leader nodes. Additionally, data may be transferred from the source node to the destination node using the cluster-level route.