UK Ministry of Defense Tests Lockheed Martin’s Mini Drones for Military Use

On August 8, 2024, the UK Ministry of Defense announced that it was conducting tests of small drones delivered by Lockheed Martin UK for military use. The drones being tested are the Stalker VXE30 and Indago 4.

The Stalker VXE30 is a vertical launch silent drone weighing approximately 20 kg with a wingspan of 4.88 m, capable of imaging for up to 8 hours. It has a range of 60 km. Meanwhile, the Indago 4 is a small drone weighing approximately 4 kg, folds up for transport and can be deployed in just 3 minutes. It has a range of up to 12 km. The high-resolution camera systems of both drones provide high intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capabilities with excellent zoom capabilities that can accurately identify people, objects, vehicles and weapons, day or night.

The Stalker VXE30 has already undergone approximately 20 hours of testing in severe weather conditions, and similar tests will be conducted on the Indago 4 in the future. The British military announced in December 2022 that it had signed a contract with Lockheed Martin UK for the delivery of more than 250 small drones. Development of the Stalker VXE30 and Indago 4 is progressing as scheduled, with the drones scheduled to be operational on the front lines by the end of 2024.

Key Features of the Drones

• Stalker VXE30: vertical launch silent drone, 20 kg, 4.88 m wingspan, 8 hours imaging, 60 km range
• Indago 4: small drone, 4 kg, folds up for transport, 3 minutes deployment, 12 km range
• High-resolution camera systems for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance
• Excellent zoom capabilities for accurate identification of people, objects, vehicles and weapons

Related Information

Cutting-edge Stalker mini drone undertakes rigorous trials – Defence Equipment & Support