Edge Autonomy Awarded Long-Range Recon Drone Development Contract

The US Army has selected Edge Autonomy’s VXE30 Stalker uncrewed aircraft system for the Long Range Reconnaissance (LRR) program prototype phase agreement.

The program aims to procure an easily transportable platform that can meet the service’s reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition needs under all weather conditions.

It seeks to expand the US Army’s current range of battlefield reconnaissance platforms, which includes AeroVironment’s hand-launched RQ-11 Raven.

Under the contract, the Redwire Corporation subsidiary will deliver the drone equipped with “advanced sensors, secure communications, autonomous mobility features, and modular payload configurations tailored to meet mission-specific requirements.”

The system is designed for extended surveillance and intelligence-gathering operations in contested environments and will be assessed by the US Army in the coming months.

“Redwire is proud to develop these systems to significantly bolster the US Army’s ability to detect, identify, and track threats across a wide range of operational theaters,” Chairman and CEO of Redwire, Peter Cannito, said.

“Redwire understands the criticality of the LRR program, and we are committed to supporting the US Army’s evolving mission needs.”

Autonomous Platform

The Stalker is a small, uncrewed aircraft system with an endurance of over eight hours and powered by a solid oxide fuel cell.

It can also be powered by a rechargeable battery and has a communication range of 160 kilometers (99 miles).

A two-person crew can operate the 22-kilogram (49-pound) fully autonomous vertical take-off and landing platform from “transportation to assembly to launch, ground station monitoring, landing, and pack-up,” according to Edge Autonomy.

The system can be ready in 20 minutes and transported in a minivan, pickup, or helicopter.

Moreover, its modular, open-systems architecture enables rapid payload integration and flexible configuration.

“Our ability to address mission needs in the field allows for reliable data that guides real-time decision making,” Edge Autonomy President Steve Adlich said.

“Our products provide soldiers with the situational awareness they need, reduces the logistics burden on the UAS (uncrewed aircraft system) operator, and delivers actionable data to brigade level personnel.”