What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
Lockheed’s Stalker XE receives VTOL upgrade
Lockheed Martin has upgraded its Stalker XE UAS with a VTOL capability, the company announced on 22 May.
The new VTOL option will provide users with increased mission flexibility and operation from more austere locations. This also provides a reduced logistics footprint and expands how and where the Stalker XE UAS may operate.
Other launch alternatives include a pneumatic rail or a standard bungee launch system.
The all-weather Stalker XE system is a small UAS that provides long endurance imaging capability through image stabilised pan, tilt, zoom on electro-optical, infrared, low-light and high-definition imagers along with an image tracker.
Depending on payloads and launch option, Stalker XE can fly up to eight hours with a propane fuel cell or up to four hours with a battery option at a cruise speed of 56km/h.
Russell Coons, programme manager, Stalker XE, said: By offering three unique launch options, we will support day or night flight operations in a variety of environments, expanding Stalker XE’s ability to do more with less. We continue to evolve the system to bring more capability to our system operators.’
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