Lockheed Martin's Stalker eXtended Endurance (XE) unmanned aerial system (UAS) has been upgraded with a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. This new option gives users greater mission flexibility allowing them to operate the system in more austere locations.
The new VTOL option features a reduced logistics footprint and expands how and where the Stalker XE UAS may operate. Other launch alternatives include a pneumatic rail or a standard bungee launch system.
"By offering three unique launch options, we will support day or night flight operations in a variety of environments, expanding Stalker XE's ability to do more with less," said Russell Coons, Stalker XE program manager. "We continue to evolve the system to bring more capability to our system operators."
Stalker XE is an operationally proven, small, silent UAS that provides unprecedented long-endurance imaging capability through image stabilized pan, tilt, zoom on electro-optical, infrared, low-light and high-def imagers, along with an image tracker.
It features a digital backbone that allows for rapid plug and play of the latest technology, meaning better pictures and more capabilities.
Stalker XE is an all-weather system with a 12-foot wingspan, weighing 24 pounds with standard payloads. Depending on payloads and launch option, Stalker XE can fly up to eight hours with a propane fuel cell or up to four hours with a battery option at a cruise speed of 35 mph.
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Stalker at Lockheed Martin
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General Atomics to retrofit MQ-9 Reaper drones
Washington DC (UPI) May 17, 2018
General Atomics was awarded a contract on Wednesday by the Defense Department to retrofit MQ-9 Reaper drones. The contract, from the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, enables General Atomics to retrofit 122 MQ-9 Block 5 Reaper aircraft as apart of a contract worth more than $206 million under the terms of a firm-fixed-price, fixed-price-incentive, and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. The MQ-9 Reaper is an intelligence, surveillance and reconna ... read more
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