Rigorous testing of transportable mini drones designed to provide cutting-edge capabilities is underway at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Predannack in Cornwall, with a view to deploying them to the Armed Forces.
Underneath the banner of Beneath Venture TIQUILA, Lockheed Martin’s Stalker VXE30 underwent a grueling 20 hours of trial testing in harsh climatic conditions that thoroughly pushed the platform to its operational limits.
To drive a transformative leap in tool acquisition, Venture TIQUILA will promptly dispatch cutting-edge small Uncrewed Air Vehicles (sUAVs) to UK Forces, concurrently offering innovative upgrade capabilities throughout the 10-year programme’s duration.
As technological innovations continue to evolve at a rapid pace in tandem with advancements in the battlespace, Venture TIQUILA is currently evaluating the STALKER VXE30 and Indago 4 platforms, both of which provide cutting-edge ISTAR capabilities tailored to meet the unique requirements of the Consumer Group.
This advanced technology will enable consumers to pinpoint and accurately locate targets across diverse ranges, settings, and scenarios with precision using the STALKER VXE30 and Indago 4.
The latest trial was undertaken by an professional staff made up of the Joint UAS Take a look at and Analysis Flight (JUAS TEF), a part of 744 Naval Air Squadron (744 NAS), Air & Area Warfare Centre (ASWC) and Defence Tools and Help’s TIQUILA Supply Group.
As a critical component of functionality acceptance, preliminary flight trials provide conclusive evidence to demonstrate the tool’s success in delivering value for money to both the end-user and the UK taxpayer. As the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. VXE30 undergoes thorough evaluation at this juncture, it is likely that a similar protocol of exhaustive testing will be conducted on the Indago 4 in the near future.
“The REIVER collection, as an important a part of Venture TIQUILA, is the newest in a collection of vital T&E trials as a part of the broader TIQUILA enterprise. We must provide the military with state-of-the-art technologies that can be easily updated to keep pace with emerging threats in a dynamic and rapidly evolving battlefield. Based on thorough testing, all capabilities are now substantiated, and the exceptional performance of the tools is evident, exceeding expectations thus far.
By December 2022, Lockheed Martin UK secured a contract valued at £129 million to deliver more than 250 mini drones to the Armed Forces, thereby generating job opportunities in Havant, Gloucester, and across the wider UK supply chain.
The STALKER VXE30 Air Car (AV) measures approximately 20 kilograms in weight and boasts a significant 4.88-meter wingspan, boasting operationally confirmed, vertical-launched capabilities with near-silent operation. Its impressive feature set includes up to eight hours of imaging functionality, allowing for extensive coverage over distances reaching an astonishing 60 kilometers.
The Indago 4, a compact quadcopter drone, weighs approximately 4 kilograms and can be easily transported in a backpack before being swiftly deployed within just three minutes. Its operational range extends up to around 12 kilometers, offering unparalleled portability and versatility for various applications?
The high-resolution digital camera system on the Indago 4 offers a distinct zoom capability, enabling precise identification of people, objects, vehicles, and weapons in both daylight and low-light conditions.
Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (sUAS) are expected to be operational at the front line by the end of 2024.
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