US Marine Corps Expands Stalker Drone Fleet With Redwire Deal

Redwire Corporation has received contracts valued at more than $20 million to deliver its proprietary Stalker Block 30 small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to the US Marine Corps.

The deal covers Advanced Navigation variants of the aircraft, which will add to over 250 Stalker platforms already in the service’s inventory.

The Florida company will also supply camera payloads, related support kits, and short, medium, and long-range ground control stations.

Redwire said that the Advanced Navigation Stalker supports the military’s broader transition to a modern UAS fleet, offering improved awareness, target localization, ISR operability, and scalability across degraded battlefields.

“Advanced Navigation is critical for long-range reconnaissance missions where drones must operate in contested, GPS-denied environments over vast distances,” said Steve Adlich, president at Redwire Defense Tech.

“Our Stalker UAS has a 20-year legacy of combat-proven reliability, mission-driven performance, and adaptability. We are proud to support [Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office] as they modernize small UAS capabilities for the Marine Corps and strengthen readiness across key mission sets.”

The Stalker Block 30

Redwire’s Stalker Block 30 airframe measures 3 meters (10 feet) long, has a wingspan of 5 meters (16 feet), and a takeoff weight of 22 kilograms (46 pounds).

It is powered by a rechargeable solid oxide fuel cell, which enables a communications range of up to 160 kilometers (99 miles), an altitude of 4,572 meters (15,000), a top speed of more than 50 knots (93 kilometers/58 miles per hour), and an eight-hour endurance.

The drone is fitted with electro-optical and infrared solutions for all-day threat monitoring and enhanced vertical takeoff and landing capability.