UK puts Stalker drone through rigorous trials
The British Armed Forces are currently testing the Stalker VXE30 mini drone, a new addition to their small Uncrewed Air Systems (sUAS) arsenal, as part of Project TIQUILA.
According to a press release from Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), this drone, developed by Lockheed Martin, has undergone nearly 20 hours of trials at RNAS Predannack in Cornwall, withstanding challenging weather conditions to assess its operational capabilities.
The Stalker VXE30 is part of a broader initiative aimed at quickly delivering advanced sUAS technology to the military while allowing for continuous updates over the next decade.
DE&S describes the project as a “step change” in equipment procurement, with the goal of keeping pace with technological and battlefield advances. The trials are crucial for determining whether the drone meets the standards required by the Armed Forces, both in terms of performance and cost-effectiveness.
The trials were conducted by a team that included the Joint UAS Test and Evaluation Flight (JUAS TEF) from 744 Naval Air Squadron, the Air & Space Warfare Centre, and DE&S’s TIQUILA Delivery Team. These tests are part of the initial phase of capability acceptance, designed to provide evidence that the equipment can deliver the promised capabilities and value for money.