UK tests mini spy drone with 37-mile-range, 8-hour imaging to replace Desert Hawk

The British Armed Forces are testing a new portable drone in anticipation of its operation by year’s end. Called the Stalker VXE30, the new drones have, to date, been put through their paces during rigorous trials at Royal Navy Air Station Predannack in Cornwall.

The trials lasted 20 hours and included challenging weather conditions. Built by Lockheed Martin, the Stalker VXE30 drones will be used for reconnaissance activities once the Armed Forces accept them.

The recent trial was conducted by an expert team consisting of the Joint UAS Test and Evaluation Flight (JUAS TEF), a part of the 744 Naval Air Squadron, the Air & Space Warfare Centre (ASWC), and the Defence Equipment and Support TIQUILA Delivery Team.

“The Reiver series, as a vital part of ‘Project TIQUILA,’ is the latest in a series of important T&E (test and evaluation) trials as part of the wider ‘TIQUILA’ enterprise,” Defence Equipment and Support’s Hannah Haggett explained in a press release.

New toys for the MOD

“Project TIQUILA” will provide advanced small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) to UK Forces rapidly, with ongoing opportunities for capability enhancement over the 10-year project lifespan. As part of this commitment, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) is currently assessing the STALKER VXE30 and Indago 4 drones.

They will provide the user community with superior ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance). The STALKER VXE30 and Indago 4 will allow the user to find and accurately locate targets at various ranges, in different environments, and under various conditions.

“[We must provide] the military with cutting-edge capabilities now but also equipment that can be continually upgraded to keep pace with emerging threats in an ever-evolving, demanding battlespace,” she added.

Testing early and appropriately will support the development of capabilities. Based on the evidence from the trials so far, the equipment is of high quality and performing as expected, she noted.

The Stalker is one of two mini drones purchased by the MOD in December 2022 for £129 million ($157 million) as part of “Project TIQUILA.” The acquisition includes a mixture of fixed-wing Stalkers and rotary-wing Indago 4 drones, replacing the British Army’s Desert Hawk 3 mini drones. All told, 250 mini drones will be acquired through the project.

Stalker and Indago 4 to enter service soon

The drones will allow users to accurately detect targets at various ranges in different environments and under varying conditions. The 44-pound (20-kilogram) vertically-launched Stalker has a wingspan of 16 feet (4.88 meters) and a low acoustic signature.

It can conduct imaging operations for up to eight hours and covers a range of 37 miles (60 kilometers). The much smaller Indago 4 weighs only 8.8 pounds (4 kilograms) and can be carried in a backpack. This drone is foldable and can be deployed in less than three minutes.

It features a high-resolution camera system with exceptional zoom capability to identify people, objects, vehicles, and weapons day and night. It deploys in two minutes and has a range of 7.5 miles (12 kilometers).

Both platforms are being assessed by a team of experts from 744 Naval Air Squadron, Air & Space Warfare Centre, and Defence Equipment and Support, the Tequila Delivery Team.