Baton Rouge Police Deploy First Stalker VXE30 Drone

The Baton Rouge Police Department has added a new aircraft to its growing drone unit, and this one immediately stands apart from the rest of the fleet.

Unveiled this week, the Edge Autonomy Stalker VXE30 is significantly larger than any of the other thirty drones currently operated by the department, with a wingspan that stretches an imposing sixteen feet from tip to tip, according to Unfiltered With Kiran.

This is not a typical police quadcopter built for quick launches and short hops over neighborhoods. The Stalker VXE30 is a fixed wing aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capability, designed for long endurance missions and wide area surveillance.

According to Baton Rouge Police Department, the aircraft can fly up to four hundred feet, which is the maximum altitude currently allowed by the Federal Aviation Administration for this class of uncrewed aircraft.

Police Chief TJ Morse did not hide his enthusiasm during the unveiling, pointing out that the drone was designed by Lockheed Martin, a name more often associated with space programs and advanced military aircraft than local law enforcement.

Morse emphasized that Baton Rouge Police Department is the first police department in the United States to deploy this specific platform, noting that until now it has largely been limited to federal agencies such as the Secret Service.

For a department eager to present itself as technologically forward, the message was clear. This was not just a new drone, it was a statement.

From helicopters to long endurance drones

The arrival of the Stalker VXE30 also reflects a broader shift in how the Baton Rouge Police Department approaches aerial support.

In 2023, the department suffered a tragic helicopter crash that resulted in the loss of its aviation support unit. In the aftermath, Baton Rouge Police Department made a strategic decision to move away from traditional manned aircraft and invest heavily in unmanned systems.

Chief Morse described the change as both necessary and forward looking. Rather than rebuilding a helicopter program with its high operating costs and inherent risks, the department chose to focus on drones that could provide similar situational awareness with far lower expense and no crew in harm’s way.

That investment has grown steadily. With the addition of the VXE30, BRPD now operates a total of thirty one drones and has twenty four FAA licensed pilots trained to fly them.

The police department now operates 31 drones and has 24 FAA licensed pilots. Since launching its drone program, BRPD reports more than 1,600 deployments, with 77 directly linked to arrests and many others credited with improving officer safety and situational awareness.

Beyond the VXE30, the fleet includes several familiar names from DJI’s lineup, including the Avata 2, Mini 3 Pro, Neo 2, Air 3S, and the Matrice 4T. This mix allows officers to choose the right tool for each mission, from indoor clearing to long range overwatch.

The Stalker VXE30 itself currently has an operating range of about thirty miles. However, the department is already working with the FAA to expand that range to one hundred miles, a move that would dramatically increase its coverage area and usefulness during major incidents, searches, or regional emergencies.

Drone Unit Commander Sgt. Dustin Conde highlighted the aircraft’s flexibility, explaining that different camera payloads can be attached depending on the mission.

At present, the drone is equipped with a thermal imaging camera capable of strong zoom performance and sustained four hour flight times. Pilots control the aircraft using a computer interface, allowing them to continue flying even when the drone is well beyond visual line of sight.

That capability alone places the VXE30 in a different category from most law enforcement drones, which are often limited by battery life, range, and the need for constant visual contact.

Capabilities, costs, and civil liberties questions

Baton Rouge Police Department officials were open about the cost of acquiring the Stalker VXE30. According to Chief Morse, the drone itself, along with batteries, equipment, and training for all pilots, totaled roughly one million dollars.

Funding for the purchase was allocated at the end of 2024 and approved in the department’s early 2025 budget, with support from the Mayor’s office.

While that figure may sound high, Morse was quick to compare it to the department’s former helicopter program, which carried annual operating costs in the same range. In contrast, ongoing expenses for the drone unit are expected to be significantly lower, limited mostly to battery replacements, certifications, and maintenance.

Operationally, the department says the VXE30 will be used across a wide range of scenarios. These include searching inside buildings, monitoring perimeters during suspect searches, supporting vehicle pursuits, and assisting the fire department with tasks such as identifying hotspots during fires or assessing dangerous infrastructure after storms.

At the same time, the introduction of such a powerful surveillance platform has raised concerns among civil rights organizations.

Representatives from groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation have pointed out that the Stalker VXE30 is closely related to drones used by special operations forces in military environments, where long range persistent surveillance is a primary mission.

Beryl Lipton of the EFF noted that the same qualities that make the drone effective for law enforcement also raise questions about privacy and oversight, especially when the aircraft can operate miles away while still capturing detailed imagery of individuals on the ground.

Baton Rouge Police Department leadership has responded by stressing that the drone will be used strictly within FAA guidelines and will not carry any weapons or non camera payloads.

Chief Morse stated plainly that while the military may use similar platforms for combat roles, the Baton Rouge version is limited to cameras and surveillance applications only.

He also acknowledged the reach of the technology, noting that even from miles away, the drone can still provide a clear view of a person’s face. For the department, this is framed as a tool to enhance officer safety and improve investigations. For critics, it underscores the need for strong policies governing when and how such surveillance is deployed.

DroneXL’s Take

The Stalker VXE30 marks a turning point for local police aviation, not because it replaces a helicopter one for one, but because it reshapes what aerial policing looks like altogether. Baton Rouge has gone all in on drones, choosing endurance, automation, and lower long term costs over the traditional prestige and risk of manned aircraft.

This move will not go unnoticed by other departments watching their budgets and public scrutiny grow tighter every year.

The real test will be how transparently and responsibly this technology is used. If Baton Rouge can balance capability with restraint, the VXE30 may become a blueprint rather than a cautionary tale.

Photo credit: Unfiltered with Kiran