The British Armed Forces are putting new portable drones through rigorous trials as they prepare to deploy them for reconnaissance missions by the end of the year. According to a press release from the UK Ministry of Defence, the Stalker VXE30 drones, built by Lockheed Martin, recently underwent 20 hours of testing in challenging weather conditions at Royal Navy Air Station Predannack in Cornwall.

Project TIQUILA: Upgrading UK’s Drone Capabilities

The trials are part of “Project TIQUILA,” a 10-year initiative to provide advanced small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) to UK Forces. Hannah Haggett from Defence Equipment and Support explained:

“[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.”

The Ministry of Defence is assessing two drone models:

Stalker VXE30: A 44-pound (20-kilogram) fixed-wing drone with a 16-foot (4.88-meter) wingspan
Indago 4: A smaller, foldable rotary-wing drone weighing 8.8 pounds (4 kilograms)

Both drones are designed to enhance the UK’s Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capabilities.

Drone Specifications and Capabilities

The Stalker VXE30 boasts:

Vertical launch capability
Low acoustic signature
8-hour imaging operation time
37-mile (60-kilometer) range

The Indago 4 features:

Backpack portability
Deployment in under 3 minutes
High-resolution camera with exceptional zoom
7.5-mile (12-kilometer) range

Significant Investment in Drone Technology

In December 2022, the MOD invested £129 million ($157 million) to acquire 250 mini drones through Project TIQUILA. These new drones will replace the British Army’s Desert Hawk 3 mini drones, providing enhanced reconnaissance capabilities across various environments and conditions.

DroneXL’s Take

The British Armed Forces’ investment in advanced Drone Technology aligns with a global trend of militaries enhancing their reconnaissance capabilities. As we’ve seen in recent drone technology developments, the integration of AI and improved imaging systems is revolutionizing military operations. The Stalker VXE30 and Indago 4 drones represent a significant leap forward in portable, long-range reconnaissance tools, potentially setting a new standard for military drone applications worldwide.

Photo courtesy of Ministry of Defence

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